Myself, among other things.

[Đαηα]

Dia daoibh!

I'm Dana, a nearly thirty-year-old (Eep!) Female of Irish and Cherokee descent. I have Spastic Hemipeligia Cerebral Palsy; Arthritis; I'm bipolar; and have an anxiety disorder. I'm happily married to my best friend. My husband a wonderful man who - in spite of differences that shock people that we could be in the same room with each other, let alone stay married - I'd marry again in a heart beat! We have a beautiful, intelligent, healthy almost-eight-year-old son who is currently living with my husband's sister and whom we don't get to see.

My husband is about to turn fourty. He has a seizure condition brought about by a motorcycle accident, which also crushed his right foot. Recently he had a severe case of diperticulitis and had to have his entire colon removed. (Yep, big scare, that).

So, as you see, health and fitness are huge concerns of ours. But they're difficult due to disabilities. What doctors we see are unhelpful. (We're on Medicaid. Enough said.) Diet is also tricky. (Foodstamps, same as Medicaid. ) But we're determined cusses who have every intention of being around to spoil our grandbrats, in spite of the odds here, and to do it with as little pain and problems as we can.

Thank you, Steven, for your inspiring, thought provoking, and helpful blog, and for setting up this forum!

[Steven Barnes]

I am so glad that you have each other for support. Whatever your condition, stress/strain can make it worse, so be certain that you have your coping mechanisms in place.

Steve

[Đαηα]

Much of his difficulties are brought on by stress. I try to minimize it as much as I can, and shower him with love and support.

Major Question: I've been reading about the 5MM avidly, looking for something that he and I can both do together. He's much into Quigong, but has fallen off that wagon since his surgery. I do walking meditation - trying for a two-in-one there - when my energy and pain levels permit. Is the 5MM a good idea for us? We're quite intrigued.

[Steven Barnes]

I would say yes. It is an incredibly powerful technique, and can add insight into the knowledge you already have. In my opinion, you want to understand the body-mind connection as fully, and from as many different directions, as possible. It is great while walking, or driving, or even making love. And by adjusting the inhalation/exhalation proportions (if you've studied yoga or tai chi or chi gung) you can get a very wide range of effects. There is a mountain out there, and it is called the full spectrum of human potential. There are many wonderful paths up that mountain. My only claim is that the 5MM is a powerful, useful, safe path up that mountain. There are others, and I encourage you to learn as much as possible. The ultimate truth is beyond all systems or "methods" or teachers--but they can help!