Question of the Week: How Resilient Are You?

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My husband and I were fortunate enough to scrape together some funds for some sorely needed repairs around the house and backyard recently. Since Robert works, I needed to change my schedule to be available to the handyman when he came to get the work done. Doing this over the past few weeks got me asking myself: How resilient am I?

Unfortunately, I don't think I am as resilient as I want to be.

What kind of rubber band am I?

To use an analogy, think of a rubber band. Your typical rubber band spreads out in all kinds of directions, but when you stop pulling it, it returns to it's pre-stretch shape.

But have you ever stretched a rubber band that had a weak spot in it, like a nick or cut in the elastic? Or stretched an old, brittle rubber band? Then you know that they can't withstand a lot of strain and are liable to break when drawn out to their limit.

I hate to admit this, but my chronic pain and fatigue make me more like that old rubber band.

Being flexible with my schedule only served to prolong my "September fibromyalgia flare-up" that began the week before Labor Day. It proved that my regular daily routine really does keep me in my energy envelope and protects me from flare-ups.

Now that I am all stretched out, I know it's going to take some time to get back into my usual shape. But at least I didn't break!

So how can I stretch further?

A year ago a wrote about about opening an energy savings account. The concept of banking energy every day instead of using up every last drop available to me fueled the idea. Well that and an inspiring quote from Bruce Campbell, PhD. of the CFIDS & FM Self Help Program:

"The unexpended energy is a gift of healing you are giving to your body."

I think banking unexpended energy is the key to building resilience. Now I just have to figure out how to give this present to myself every day.


How resilient are you? What have you tried to build resiliency into your life with chronic illness? Share your thoughts in a comment or head over to the Oh My Aches and Pains! Facebook page to continue the discussion.