May 2018
Dear Future Me,
You will be reading this when you turn 70, in 2037. You will have had fibromyalgia for 40 years. Maybe you will be cured, perhaps not. Either way, I am writing so you remember your time in 2018. How you searched and fought to live your best life with this chronic disease that is fibromyalgia.
As I write this in 2018, I am 50 years old. I have accomplished many things… I thought my life would be very different but then a chronic illness and its dastardly friends showed up and took my home and my livelihood in a matter of a few short years. But I am handling it. I learned to live with daily pain. I managed to get married. I started a support group and a blog. I published my first book, never thought I could ever do that.
We had some hard times too. We lost brother Kory in 2003. Although my marriage was celebrated in 2004, we went through a breakdown in family communication. There were misunderstandings right around 2011. Then there was the pancreatitis scare. So many surgeries and so many lost memories. We beat it, but that is a time I still grieve over. I can’t make what happened any better because I can’t recall the majority of two whole years. I hope you have figured out a way to repair those relationships. I have lost my way at this point. Letters and apologies did not work. I must have done something awful… did you figure out what it was?
I suppose we have lost more family members by the time you read this letter in 2037. Mom and Dad will be gone. Aunties and uncles, even some cousins will be gone. And the next generation should be well on their way towards taking over our family lake home; StoweAway. I wonder if they and their children will realize all that it took for us to make it what it is? A safe place for family and friends to gather and enjoy the company of one another. I hope you have made sure they know how special StoweAway is. How much work it takes to maintain this property. How many meetings, we five original board members held, to ensure the property would remain safely in the family. I believe you will ensure they are well versed in what it takes.
I am hoping this letter finds you and Jeff living the RV life full-time. We are working so hard right now in 2018 to make this happen. Remember all the classes we took about financial markets and trading platforms? Jeff quit his job in 2017 and started driving fulltime for Uber and Lyft. It was a jump into the unknown! We were so scared. It is working though. It was frightening in the beginning, but we knew this was the only way we would become mobile, making our dream of travel come true! All the planning, research, trade shows, classes, and textbooks! I hope you smile now as you are reading this. I hope you are smiling because you ARE living the RV life, Jeff and I are trying so desperately to get to.
I hope your pain has subsided. I hope you still look at our hubby and tell him you love him, every single day. I hope you still find laughter in each and every day and that you finally feel like you deserve to be happy. Because you do. You never gave up! You fought very hard from the beginning, then you found acceptance and did the best you could for you, your husband, and all those who came and went in our lives. You fought a good fight! Yes, sometimes it was just minute by minute, but you did it. If you are reading this letter, you made it! I hope you are wise and witty! I want you to lead a life of love, peace, and joy in your heart.
Happy 70th birthday, Kim!
From me, 2018.
What an amazing letter to write to your future self. Praying that your pain will subside one day but it seems like you are doing the best that you can and just taking it moment by moment and enjoying life. That’s you really can do when dealing with a chronic illness. I enjoyed reading this. Very encouraging.
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I so appreciate your comment! I was scared to push the publish button. But it feels good now! Your encouragement made a big difference. Many thanks.
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You’re welcome❤ So glad that you decided to share it.
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And many many happy returns, love.
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Thank you! xo!
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Reblogged this on Stone in the Road.
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What a good idea, we should all do this.
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Definitely! I would love to read your letter! Give it a shot and absolutely let me know if you do because I don’t want to miss it!~Kim
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Brilliant! I hope I’m here reading your reply, Kim; I loved this!
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I love the letter you wrote to your future self! You always have the best ideas Kim! I certainly hope that someday all those in pain will be pain free, I think we all deserve this!!!! I hope your weekend is spent doing what makes you happy and you are comfortable!!! Much love my dear!!
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Thanks. I got the idea from the Fibro Boggers Directory. It a pretty cool start up site, helping to promote and teach Fibro bloggers. Have a nice weekend!
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That girl always has some kind of fantastic idea! She is pretty amazing, isn’t she?
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I feel like I know you so much better after reading this. I must say I nearly cried when I heard everything you and your family have been through and then again when I read your beautiful wishes to your future self. Thanks so much for sharing this. Also thank you for the mention of Fibro Bloggers Directory and I am so pleased you are part of it.
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My pleasure Lee! I’m very excited to be part of the directory. I appreciate your commenting! I am so glad this was a prompt and I did it some justice. I enjoyed writing this, good to remember we all have dreams for our future selves… 💜~Kim
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I feel like I know you so much better after reading this. I must say I nearly cried when I heard everything you and your family have been through and then again when I read your beautiful wishes to your future self. Thanks so much for sharing this. Also thank you for the mention of Fibro Bloggers Directory and I am so pleased you are part of it.
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Great letter and idea
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What a lovely post…I love the idea of writing a loving letter to my future self…I hope when you read it again that all your heartfelt wishes and hard work have created a beautiful life for you both (& your families, too!)!
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Thank you! That was so kind of you to say. ~Kim
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It’s a pleasure (always!)!
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I hpeythat when you read this 20 years from now you will see that most of what you hoped for came to fruition
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Thankyou, Steve. I hope so. If nothing else I want my 70 year old self to remember she fought hard for her health… even if the ending isn’t how I want it to be. At least she can be proud Olof her tenacity.
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This is so incredibly beautiful, Kim. Thank you for sharing! Love Love Love!!!
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I think you should write one too!
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I am totally going to do it!
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Yes!
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I really hope that all of this comes true!!
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This is so special……….YOU are going to make it and you are going to be better!
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Thank you so much, Wendi! I hope to open this when I’m 70, and look at you and say, you were right!!!
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I will be right…….I am sure of it. You have a very strong spirit, one I can even feel through the computer!
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xo
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