Here's hoping all my Hannukah celebrating friends have been having a wonderful time, that all my Christmas celebrating friends will have oodles o fun in the coming days, and that all my dear fellow Beast Tamers will look back on whatever winter holidays they celebrate as having been filled to the brim with joy! (And I hope that no one feels as grumpy as these fluffy fellows in their holiday gear seem to be!) Joy to you all. <3
         For all my fellow Beast Tamers who are beginning their Hanukkah celebrations,           Chag Chanukah Sameach! And may your holidays be full of joyful, low pain days!
This short video is such a treat! I'm sorry I've been awol for so long, and the Pup-o-grams have just not been happening! I've been working hard on a post that is soon to arrive, but meanwhile, here's a marsupial Pup-o-gram to tide you over... I love the attitude of the fellow filming this cute shower visitor... not only is he "not sweating the little stuff" (a fantastic skill all Beast Tamers would do well to learn!), but he's enjoying to the full all the gentle little surprises life offers (another super skill!)... These are fantastic ways to calm our central nervous systems, and forge the best lives possible. Wishing both of these great Beast Taming skills (and showers when we need them) to all of us!
While the energy of Spring can be rejuvenating, it's also an easy time for us Beast Tamers to push our limits too far... so much life happening all at once, so many things to do. Don't forget to take the rest you need to be able to do at least some of the galloping you're dreaming of!
We're having unseasonably cold weather where I live... it actually snowed! Meanwhile, multiple kinds of flowers that have already bloomed are in shock. Weird weather can be so hard when we live with chronic pain! I hope where you are it's calm and sunny, and if not (or even if so) that you have some loving comfort to help you make it the day. (Like this lovey, snuggly pair!)
The 2014 Chinese Year is the 31st in a 60 year cycle. Called Chia Wu and described in Chinese tradition as "Horse in the Clouds", 2014 is the year of the Green Wooden Horse. The coming year is considered likely to increase compassionate behaviors, as this 2014 Horse is sensitive to others' troubles and quick to act in protection of those who cannot fight for themselves. This may be a good year to raise awareness of RSD/CRPS and other health conditions, and to ask for help when we need it. There is optimism, loyalty, health, and vitality in the horse, too.... sounds like this could be a wonderful year for all of us Beast Tamers! Here's a little beauty to start us off on the right hoof!
This otter and kitty have a few things in common... though they come from rather different worlds, they find good company in each other. Kind of like so many of us Beast Tamers from different countries, different backgrounds, who have found such happiness in being together online. (Though most of us aren't quite as fluffy and sweet as these two!)
Many of us are in wheelchairs, and many more are forced to sit for the better part of most days. Make sure that your posture is the best you can make it; this can help with muscle strain and pain levels. Help with correcting posture can be had through many alternative modalities including Osteopathy, Feldenkrais, and Alexander technique. Just make sure that your practitioner either has a good understanding of RSD/CRPS, or is willing and able to go very slowly, gently, and incrementally, to listen well and follow your guidance…. or best yet, both! Meanwhile, just do the best you can while you enjoy this pic of one plump little darling chair sitter.
One of the most important things we can do for ourselves and our long term outcome with chronic pain is to stay as mobile and active as we possibly can without raising pain levels. Remember to go gently, incrementally, and to pre-medicate if need be; but do what you can to keep moving! This little pup sure is determined to get on the treadmill like the big boys! (Warning; if music with a heavy beat can be a trigger, best watch this one muted. “Eye of the Tiger†could mean “Pain like a Tiger Bite†otherwise!)
I notice this little baby is sitting in a corporate setting… maybe if big business had a few more pups in their daily lives, they’d have a little more heart!
Although it's important not to lay too much stress on ourselves with "resolutions", it's also wonderful to contemplate this idea of a "new year"... a new start, a time to reassess and start afresh! On that note, here's a sweet new baby bunny.... awww, the darling!
Wishing for all my fellow Beast Tamers in this coming year, all good things; a year of hope, health, happiness, peace, prosperity, progress, learning, laughter and love. (I hope our metaphorical tails will sometimes wag as hard as this darling, hopeful little fellow's is!)
Lots of Beast Tamers are packing away their festive bits and bobs now that New Year's is over. Don't forget to keep the happy memories; and don't pack away the wonder... keep some of that on hand for every day... I bet this little critter does!
This little pup reminds me of my dear childhood friend, Angus. Like this guy, he too often had an expression of hope and optimism on his fluffy little face.... which all of us Beast Tamers would do well to emulate when we can! It's sometimes hard to keep our hopes up in the face of all these challenges, but when we do, it can actually calm our CNS, lower stress hormones like cortisol, and really impact our pain levels for the day. It's been a rough year for me in many ways, but I'm truly trying to enter this new year with hope; hope for the future, hope for my health, hope for the health and happiness of all of my friends, loved ones and fellow Beast Tamers near and far. I also hope you are able to celebrate this evening in the way and with the people you love best. That will be home made pizza, the first hobbit movie on video (since I can't go to theatres because of my mast cell disease, and I've been yearning to see it!) with my family. (Our pups are looking forward to a few bits and bites of pizza themselves!)
Even though cats seem able to intimidate the doggies in their lives, they have their fears, too! When we live with a Beast like RSD/CRPS or other chronic pain syndromes, we often have to work on keeping our central nervous systems calm... that means dealing with fears, disengaging from worry, and other mighty challenging tasks! It also means knowing when not to watch the latest horror or high-stim adventure flick... when pain levels are high and there's too many triggers already. Sometimes, excitement just isn't a pal of ours. *sigh* (Speaking of which, the music in this video is hillarious, and perfectly timed, but be aware if this is a high stim day for you and music can be a trigger... it's horror flick
Between the rigors of whatever holiday you've celebrated (or being surrounded by others who are doing so, if you've opted out), and nasty weather (for those of us in the northern hemisphere), December can be a pretty tough time. Make sure you snuggle in and get a little extra rest if you can... like this sweet l'il Elle!
If there's anything on this earth more fun than a puppy's first snow, it's a pack of pups in their first snow! Hope you're all keeping safe and warm while you recover from the holidays. xo (PS cheesy, cheerful music alert; if you aren't in the mood, just mute and watch the pupkins play without the side order of cheese...)
For any Beast Tamers who happen to be celebrating Kwanzaa today, I wish you every blessing possible. (Looks like this little pup's got her party clothes together!)
And just one more for all my Wiccan, Heathen, and Pagan Pals; it's not quite a pup-o-gram, 'cause this beautiful Lord of the Forest has a wee tad more dignity than most of our "pups"... but I wish all my fellow Beast Tamers the beauty and blessings of Yuletide. Love to you all. <3
 (so this makes 7 for this 25th day of December... let's hope that means good luck for us all!)
                                      I hope your day has been wonderful.
Well, for all my fellow Beast Tamers who are celebrating Christmas (and for those who aren't!) I've got some presents... a passel o' pup-o-grams! Yup. There were just too many cute pics and videos to choose from. So hold onto your cuteness protection hats; here they come! (And this little darling is today's pup-o-gram 1)
What the heck, it's Christmas Eve... Here's one last pup-o-gram before we all go to sleep (a "real" pup-o-gram, this time!) To all my fellow Beast Tamers, tonight I wish you deep and pain-free puppy sleep, with warmth and comfort, and the sweetest of dreams. Goodnight, all.
Well, I couldn't help posting this extra pup-o-grams (though one's a Kitty-gram!), when this was just so darned cute! I figure if it made me smile so much I had better pass it on.... This has got to be the world's most patient cat! Merry Christmas Eve, all, and a low pain holidays! xo
If you've decorated your home for the season, I hope you got some help to do it! This little Guinea piglet seems like he'd be a cheerful helper... Happy Christmas Eve!
May all my fellow Beast Tamers who are celebrating Pancha Ganapati receive the bountiful blessings of Lord Ganesh ~ creativity, happiness, feasting and merriment for all! (With low pain days on top!)
We've got snow here today! That means more pain for me, so I'm pulling out the stops to find small comforts and distractions. A hot water bottle in a fluffy cover, some extra homeopathics, and a bit of dragon slaying in Skyrim (I know, taming is better, but sometimes a little slaying's the thing, even for a peaceable critter like myself!) Bunnies in winter know that sometimes you just have to work with what you can find… how many pain relieving distractions can you find in your world today?
To all my fellow Beast Tamers who are having Solstice Celebrations today, may the returning of the light bring us all joy, and hope, health and strength, peace and prosperity with the turning of the wheel. Blessed be!
I'm sorry to be so late, as Hanukkah ended on December 5 this year, but it's been a bit of a rough month! So here's a belated Hanukkah pup-o-gram that's no less sweet for being a bit behind schedule. Hope the holiday was wonderful for you all!
Sometimes pain can leave a body flat out! If it’s one of those days, take care of yourself, and be kind to yourself about it, too. A day of total rest when we need it can stop a full on flare from taking over.
Remember to take time to view the world with wonder. Photography can be a good hobby or art form for some Beast Tamers… is it one you’ve considered? Give it a try! A creative outlet is an important part of celebrating your precious life, and it can relieve stress and maybe even generate income.
 What a lovely lovely creature! And what strange and lovely sounds she makes… I think her coat looks nicest on her, NOT on anyone else; so glad she was rescued!
We don’t often get snow here, and I admit I’m a bit of a Grinch about the white stuff, sometimes, but there is nothing so fun as watching a dog discover snow for the first time!
It is cold here today! Any weather change can be hard on folks with chronic pain, but cold is often a kicker! Stay in if you can, and don’t forget hot water bottles, warm baths, cuddling with furry friends, and,(apparently)wearing cat hats (!) can all be good coping tools. Wishing you warm…
My name is Lili and this is my blog, Taming the Beast. In this blog, I’ll be sharing some of my journey writing my book, “Taming the Beast ~ The Complete Guide to Natural & Self Care for Chronic Pain Syndromes” while living with RSD/CRPS and a whole raft of other chronic health challenges myself. I hope to be sharing not only my journey, but sneak previews of the book, holistic home-based treatments and tips for daily living with chronic pain and the many systemic challenges that so often accompany it. I also hope to learn more about what works and doesn’t work for you as you journey forth to tame your beast. Welcome! I look forward to getting to know you, and sharing my experience with you.
This site is free from the odious intrusions of advertising, which means that it’s all work (well, some of it is pretty fun) and no pay (except for personal satisfaction, and the give and take of human interaction etc)… If you like the content you see here, if you’re looking forward to “Taming the Beast” ~ The Complete Guide to Natural and Home-based Care for Chronic Pain Conditions, and would like to see it move along as quickly as possible, or if you’re just feeling a compelling and inexplicable wave of generosity… please don’t hesitate. This button will make it easy. As is the case for many folk impacted by complex chronic health problems, financial survival is always an issue for my family, so we’ll bless you and thank you and hope the sun shines down on you… of course we’ll hope that for those who can’t contribute too, but you’ll have our thanks!
(Christmas pup-o-gram #3)
