For those of you that do not know what Fibromyalgia is, consider yourself blessed in your ignorance, because those of us who have it would not wish it on anyone. It is a disease that tries to rob us of our quality of life. It takes away our joy, our jobs, our dignity and sometimes even our families.
What is Fibromyalgia? Nobody is quite certain yet. It has just become the subject of serious medical study in the past few years. When I was first diagnosed, the doctor was quite candid about his lack of knowledge. He said that nobody knows what causes it, where it comes from or even how to effectively treat it. About the only thing he did know was that I had it. Without going into detail about these recent studies, I will try to explain it as I live with it.
Imagine that you have the flu. The aches and pain, the utter fatigue, the foggy head, the absolute inability to function normally. Now imagine waking up that way, every day for the rest of your life (on a good day). Yes, a good day for a Fibromite is feeling like the worst day with flu symptoms. But it does not stop there because a good day only comes around once in a while. Most people who suffer from Fibromyalgia are absolutely unable to function normally at all. The Pain is unbearable, the Fatigue is overwhelming, the symptoms can range from strange tingly sensations to overwhelming pain in the blink of an eye. I sometimes wake up to pain that I never thought could exist, or I hurt in places that I never would have believed you could experience pain. Have you ever had your eyebrows hurt so bad that you would be tempted to shave them off? Have you ever had a day when it hurt to wear clothing? The old expression "Pain in the Butt", must have been coined by a fibromite. There are days that I would just like to have a hug from my wife, but the thought of the pain it would bring keeps me from it. Your worst possible day with the flu, is my best possible day with Fibromyalgia.
That is why I admire Fibromites who refuse to give up. The temptation is there, and it is always in the back of your mind (I just can't possibly work anymore)... but you continue forward and still manage to mask your suffering and make it through a work day. I Salute those fibromites who still work and have a career because most people just give up and give in. They go on disability and sit around feeling sorry for themselves. But there are a remnant of you; a few brave souls, who enduring all suffering still manage to work. What is even more amazing is the number of fibromites who go into business for themselves. Working a normal job is hard enough, but working for yourself and by yourself would strain any healthy person into submission. I know of many healthy people who have taken thier own life from the stress of operating a small business, and yet I see many fibromites that can manage it, and it gives me courage and hope. You have to understand that most people with fibromyalgia do not look sick. But this invisible disease has taken soo much away from them. Is it Faith that keeps them going? Is it Hope? What kind of person can face impossible odds to become indepentantly successful in business? But let me define success for you healthy people. Success is not always about money. I know many people who would tell you that thier life is a success even though they don't have much money. Wealth and Success are a measure of how well we live our lives in the face of that which seems impossible.
There was a time in my life when I thought I had empathy for those who had a chronic illness or suffered chronic pain. But the truth is "I Had No Clue"! There was a time in my life when I thought success meant Money, Wealth, Fame and Stability. I now have a better understanding of how fragile and fleeting our lives truly are. It seems like just a moment ago that I was healthy and strong and independant. I could arise at five in the morning and work until one or two the next morning, day after day. Just a moment ago I thought I had a clear vision of my hopes and dreams. Just a moment ago it was all stolen from me by a disease I had never heard of before. Does that mean I am a failure? Certainly Not! God just needed to clarify my vision a little. I needed to be able to see life from another point of view. Now I see success in so many small things, and I understand the wonder and miracle of what success truly is. It seems like just a moment ago, that I could never attain success. But now I understand that success is simply a state of mind. I marvel at how much a healthy person is able to accomplish in one day, but I also understand that accomplishment is relative. If you have given the best you have to give, then you are a success. At this stage in my life, Success sometimes means that I made it through another day and gave it my best shot. Just because a person is unable to accomplish grand things. does not make them a failure.
My original intention for this blog was to give praise to all the people who suffer from Fibromyalgia or any other adversity and still manage to operate thier own business. Some have chosen this path out of desire, but many others have had to choose out of necessity. When you have a chronic condition that keeps you from working a regular job and regular hours, you have to become creative or give up. I see far too many people just give up in life, and I salute all those who give it thier best shot, no matter what tries to hold them down. These are the kind of people you want to do business with. These are the kind of people who deserve your business, because they have worked far above and beyond the call of duty and they will be willing to give you the kind of service you deserve.
May God grant you Success.
Charles Beason
http://www.rugrunnerbiz.com
Do you need some business options because your life has suddenly changed? Do you need to work from home or set your own hours? I have dedicated a web page to Free business startups and marketing at http://www.rugrunnerbiz.com/Business_Opportunities.aspx
Just in case you need some new options in your life as I did in mine.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Why Do People Settle?
Why Do People Settle?
We research, We shop around, and finally find exactly what we want and need, only to turn around and Settle for something Less.
As a Flooring Design Consultant it is my responsibility to help people find exactly what type of flooring they want and the style of flooring that will best suit their needs. All to often I will work with a client to find the perfect match for their needs for a practical price. We review all the types of flooring that are available, consider the style of décor they want to achieve and what style of flooring will look, wear and clean the best for the needs of their household, only to have them make a sudden turn and SETTLE for something less than what they want. I work with my clients for days, weeks and sometimes years to help them find exactly what they want. And after all the work and careful consideration, we finally come to a conclusion that is best suited to their needs. After this process I will give them an estimate for the cost for what they have decided they want and need, and this is where I can usually expect the “Settle” to take place. I tell them a price and while looking them in the eyes I await the common response; “Do you have something a little cheaper”? At this point I am ready to throw my tape measure into the trash and walk slowly into the sunset (but I don’t). I will quite simply tell them “Of course I do”, but what I want to tell them is something entirely different. “After all this work and consideration we have found the exact flooring you want that will wear the best, clean the easiest and give your home décor the look you are trying to achieve and suddenly you want to Settle”!
I am not too hard on my clients though, because I am also guilty of the same offense. It is not an offense that is directed toward anyone in particular, It is really an offense against ourselves. It has taken me many years and many mistakes to come to a certain conclusion. IT DOES NOT PAY TO SETTLE! In the past I would usually research an item I need or want and find the perfect thing for the need I have only to settle for something that costs less and does not do all that I need it to do. I often found that after trying to make do with an inferior product, I would usually go back and buy the thing I wanted in the first place, but by this time it is too late to exchange or return the original item so what I did was end up paying for something I did not really want the first time, and finally buy what I did want later. After years of doing this it finally hit me that I was paying almost twice as much for the item I truly wanted in the first place. And as I thought about it further, it occurred to me that the majority of the time the price difference between what I really wanted and what I had Settled for was not that much. On average there is about a $100 to $500 dollar difference to buy what you really need and want. In the overall scheme of things it becomes clear that the true Bargain is to buy what you really wanted the first time around.
What is it about us as human beings that cause us to settle for less than what we want? Is it purely monetary (is it greed)? Or is it something that is ingrained into our psyche that tells us that we simply cannot have what we truly want? Did our parents pass this bad decision process down to us by continually telling us that they could not afford what we wanted (Money does not grow on trees!)? What exactly causes us to Settle for something less than what we want?
I have come to the conclusion that is has nothing to do with money because we tend to settle for less in every aspect of our lives. When a young lady decides she needs a boyfriend, she has an image in her mind of what that boyfriend should be. How he should look, what kind of personality and character he should have, in other words, she knows exactly what she is looking for in a boyfriend or potential mate. If she is wise she will patiently wait until the man of her dreams becomes evident, but along comes the pressure to have a boyfriend and to have him Now (everyone knows you have to kiss a lot of Frogs until you find your handsome Prince)! So they settle for a young man who is not anything like the man of their dreams, and quite often will be the exact opposite of a handsome prince. I see far too many beautiful young ladies that have settled for a controlling and abusive Toad, when they should have waited just a little longer and they would have their Prince. But now they will never find their Prince because the Frog controls them. Do you see how Settling affects every aspect of our lives? I could give you example after example, but I think you get my meaning.
So many of us are Settling for less than what we truly desire in life. We are settling in our relationships, in our thought life and even in our spiritual life and this is all due to our selfish desire to get what we want NOW, even if we have to give up our dreams, goals and aspirations. Even if it means we have to suffer great hardship, we will settle for now, until our true dream comes to pass. The only problem with this approach to life is that as long as you are caught up in the Less you will never achieve the More. If you settle now, you may never get your hearts true desire, or you will have to wait longer and work harder to finally get closer to your hearts desire. When we achieve our hearts desire we call it success. My friends, there are far too many of us living a life of mediocrity when we deserve success. And there are far too many approaches to success not to get out there and try one. Pick a path to your dreams and stick with it until you achieve the desired results. Do Not Settle! Life is far too short.
Going back to my original example with my clients. If they would only be willing to spend a little more now, they would be happier in the future. If you settle for a cheap floor, you will always be unhappy with it, until whenever or if ever you can change it. And so it goes. If you are unhappy with your life don’t expect it to get better until you decide to take the leap of faith, and finally find the path to your dreams.
If you would like a better Area Rug, check out my web site http://rugrunnerbiz.com . Don’t settle for a cheap chain-store imitation. If you would like a better Job, check out my web site for Business Opportunities that may appeal to you (or if you need a unique way to market your business). If you want a better relationship with others, work on your relationship with God first and the rest will follow. If you take a step forward and act on Faith, your desires Can be obtained. You Do Not Have To Settle!
My Favorite Quote is from Jesus of Nazereth: “Ask and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you.”
We research, We shop around, and finally find exactly what we want and need, only to turn around and Settle for something Less.
As a Flooring Design Consultant it is my responsibility to help people find exactly what type of flooring they want and the style of flooring that will best suit their needs. All to often I will work with a client to find the perfect match for their needs for a practical price. We review all the types of flooring that are available, consider the style of décor they want to achieve and what style of flooring will look, wear and clean the best for the needs of their household, only to have them make a sudden turn and SETTLE for something less than what they want. I work with my clients for days, weeks and sometimes years to help them find exactly what they want. And after all the work and careful consideration, we finally come to a conclusion that is best suited to their needs. After this process I will give them an estimate for the cost for what they have decided they want and need, and this is where I can usually expect the “Settle” to take place. I tell them a price and while looking them in the eyes I await the common response; “Do you have something a little cheaper”? At this point I am ready to throw my tape measure into the trash and walk slowly into the sunset (but I don’t). I will quite simply tell them “Of course I do”, but what I want to tell them is something entirely different. “After all this work and consideration we have found the exact flooring you want that will wear the best, clean the easiest and give your home décor the look you are trying to achieve and suddenly you want to Settle”!
I am not too hard on my clients though, because I am also guilty of the same offense. It is not an offense that is directed toward anyone in particular, It is really an offense against ourselves. It has taken me many years and many mistakes to come to a certain conclusion. IT DOES NOT PAY TO SETTLE! In the past I would usually research an item I need or want and find the perfect thing for the need I have only to settle for something that costs less and does not do all that I need it to do. I often found that after trying to make do with an inferior product, I would usually go back and buy the thing I wanted in the first place, but by this time it is too late to exchange or return the original item so what I did was end up paying for something I did not really want the first time, and finally buy what I did want later. After years of doing this it finally hit me that I was paying almost twice as much for the item I truly wanted in the first place. And as I thought about it further, it occurred to me that the majority of the time the price difference between what I really wanted and what I had Settled for was not that much. On average there is about a $100 to $500 dollar difference to buy what you really need and want. In the overall scheme of things it becomes clear that the true Bargain is to buy what you really wanted the first time around.
What is it about us as human beings that cause us to settle for less than what we want? Is it purely monetary (is it greed)? Or is it something that is ingrained into our psyche that tells us that we simply cannot have what we truly want? Did our parents pass this bad decision process down to us by continually telling us that they could not afford what we wanted (Money does not grow on trees!)? What exactly causes us to Settle for something less than what we want?
I have come to the conclusion that is has nothing to do with money because we tend to settle for less in every aspect of our lives. When a young lady decides she needs a boyfriend, she has an image in her mind of what that boyfriend should be. How he should look, what kind of personality and character he should have, in other words, she knows exactly what she is looking for in a boyfriend or potential mate. If she is wise she will patiently wait until the man of her dreams becomes evident, but along comes the pressure to have a boyfriend and to have him Now (everyone knows you have to kiss a lot of Frogs until you find your handsome Prince)! So they settle for a young man who is not anything like the man of their dreams, and quite often will be the exact opposite of a handsome prince. I see far too many beautiful young ladies that have settled for a controlling and abusive Toad, when they should have waited just a little longer and they would have their Prince. But now they will never find their Prince because the Frog controls them. Do you see how Settling affects every aspect of our lives? I could give you example after example, but I think you get my meaning.
So many of us are Settling for less than what we truly desire in life. We are settling in our relationships, in our thought life and even in our spiritual life and this is all due to our selfish desire to get what we want NOW, even if we have to give up our dreams, goals and aspirations. Even if it means we have to suffer great hardship, we will settle for now, until our true dream comes to pass. The only problem with this approach to life is that as long as you are caught up in the Less you will never achieve the More. If you settle now, you may never get your hearts true desire, or you will have to wait longer and work harder to finally get closer to your hearts desire. When we achieve our hearts desire we call it success. My friends, there are far too many of us living a life of mediocrity when we deserve success. And there are far too many approaches to success not to get out there and try one. Pick a path to your dreams and stick with it until you achieve the desired results. Do Not Settle! Life is far too short.
Going back to my original example with my clients. If they would only be willing to spend a little more now, they would be happier in the future. If you settle for a cheap floor, you will always be unhappy with it, until whenever or if ever you can change it. And so it goes. If you are unhappy with your life don’t expect it to get better until you decide to take the leap of faith, and finally find the path to your dreams.
If you would like a better Area Rug, check out my web site http://rugrunnerbiz.com . Don’t settle for a cheap chain-store imitation. If you would like a better Job, check out my web site for Business Opportunities that may appeal to you (or if you need a unique way to market your business). If you want a better relationship with others, work on your relationship with God first and the rest will follow. If you take a step forward and act on Faith, your desires Can be obtained. You Do Not Have To Settle!
My Favorite Quote is from Jesus of Nazereth: “Ask and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you.”
Charles Beason,
chazbeason@rugrunnerbiz.com
chazbeason@rugrunnerbiz.com
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