Musical Me!

I am a acoustic cover artist and singer/songwriter! I love listening to all genres of music, it helps to inspire my music by listening to all kinds of music. My artist inspirations mostly come from the artists Colbie Calliat, Haley Reinhart, Adele, and Sara Barielles. I cover all genres of songs into my own style twist, my style is a mix of pop/blues/folk. If you want to check out my music be sure to look up my youtube videos and my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lizzieholmesmusic
Music hasnt always been easy for me because of my fibromyalgia. Having joint pain in my hands make it difficult to play so when I am feeling good I love to share my music whether it's a paid or unpaid gig, or open mic. One thing that fibromyalgia has taught me is that if you have talents and gifts use them to the fullest and share them, you never know if they are going away.

Explore and find new talents by trying new things when they come your way. I love all of you and I hope you enjoy my music! Here is a video of me singing :)

The Primary Answer Challenge

Recently I haven't been active in my church. Deep down I know it is time to make changes in the small things called primary answers. they may seem simple and yet making the smallest of changes can make the biggest of differences. I wish to be more active in church and have a stronger relationship with god,

The primary answers

-Go to church

-pray

-read scriptures

My challenge is for 30 days to 

-pray 3x and day

When praying pray for more things thankful for. Pray for more than a minute. Pray once a day for more than minute praying for things grateful for. 

-STUDY scriptures 3x a day

Have questions in mind when go to study scriptures and answer them. Also fill in more scriptures for scripture directory for people

-go to church weekly 

Take avid notes and find something that learned or impressed me after each lesson or talk

-Write down a list of 5 things I'm grateful for everyday 

After doing these things for thirty day I will write about my experiences here on blog. And bear my testimony. I will also make a calendar to keep track of my goals.

Communication: Shoulding

I have implemented a simple change in my life within the last year that has literally changed my life and the way I think. and that simple change is the word SHOULD. We may not recognize it but the word should is used daily all the time and can bring unproductive or negative connotation. Some examples of thoughts that can occur saying should is: I should start working out again, I should be a better person, I should probably do my homework, etc. I call this "Shoulding" and it is a negative influence in our lives because it is almost like having a nagging parent in back of head telling you what you want to do. Most of the time in shoulding we are more likely to procrastinate or just not get the task done yet. So I made a pact to not say the word should ever and instead replace it with words such as I desire or I want to. Replacing the word should has brought more productivity and positive mindset into my life. I challenge others to try as well to recognize when they are using the word should and make an effort to replace it with a more positive word. I promise you will feel more confident and productive just by changing one small word in your life. 

-resources 

http://daphne.palomar.edu/jtagg/should.htm

My Fibromyalgia

I love my fibromyalgia. Today I wish to tell my story and how I have come to this conclusion.

Freshman year of high school my family had caught the disease 5th disease that my brother had brought home from school. One of the symptoms is joint pain for adults and for children can get blisters. I remember coming home after soccer practice and telling my parents about the searing joint pain in my right pinkie. My family and doctor assumed it was 5th disease without any testing since the rest of my family was experiencing symptoms. A year later while doing blood tests I went to do blood testing and had a feeling I should check to see if I have 5th disease. Good thing I checked because turns out I didn't ever have it! throughout high school my joint and chronic pain spread to both my hands, up my arms, to my shoulders, down my back, and once I went to college and started walking more it developed in my feet. Throughout High school I probably tried every kind of doctor you can think of to help me find a diagnoses for my pain. I spent 4 years undiagnosed before I was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia. 

In the time this occurred I found myself having to give up activities I loved such as drawing, soccer, running, music, and so much more. I found myself feeling sorry for myself and that my identity was being lost to this disease because my hobbies and talents became limited. But the worst part about having fibromyalgia was having people around me not know what it is or for many people not even believe it is a real feeling. I had doctor after doctor and person after person throughout my life question whether or not I really was in pain. I felt as though I was losing my identity. 

Then one day I was watching a videos in my college course laws in special education. I was many people with diseases, mental delayed, and disabled claim that they loved the way they are and who they are. I realized I loved the way I was to. Despite the pain fibro puts me through I have learned and grown so much from it and it has made me the wonderful person I am today. without my fibro I wouldn't be who I am now and I can let it use me to make me weaker or stronger mentally. In the process of having fibromyalgia I learned new hobbies and overcome fears of some activities such as swimming. I learned the importance of a healthier lifestyle physically, mentally, emotionally, and etc. I learned many tips and tricks for health that I have used to show my friends and loved ones and bless their lives. It has led me to a career path in wanting to help people with disabilities and choose my major in special education. Fibromyalgia has helped me choose the live more beautifully than in pain. I wont lie it is a hard thing to carry on my shoulders everyday and I have had days crying in self pity and can't even get myself out of bed from pain. But in those moments recognize that your body is simply hurting and do something about it. 

What Now?

Here are some tips and tricks I have personally only been able to do to get some relief

-Massage therapy 

this has been the most beneficial for me, keep watch on deals going around do it once a week for awhile then work up to once a month. 

If cant afford massages sometimes whenever I need a massage I will get a lacrosse or tennis ball and lean against a wall and rub. Or I use massage rolls that can get at Walmart to help relax muscles. Or even get a friend to rub your back for you. Or go to mall and test out massage chairs. 

-Soaking feet in hot water 

Not only has this benefited me to help my muscles relax but also helps whenever have a bad headache. This helps because the heat of water will make more blood rush to the feet thus relaxing brain and body. 

fill bathtub or bowl with tolerable hot water put feet in up to ankles 

leave feet in until prune looking. 

for best results sit with spine straight and do some meditation or focus on your breathing. Then drink something relaxing like tea, water, etc. 

-Meditation

The most recent benefit I've experienced is meditation. Their is a lot more to meditation than just sitting and going UMMMMMMMM. It is a deep peace that occurs when mind and body is silent. If You want to experience the full benefits of meditation, make sure that your technique is correct. This video describes well the correct technique. Also what helps me get into a state of mind and body silence is finding guided meditation videos or audio. A video I really like that is a good beginner one is this YouTube video. Listen and follow the instructions and you will find more peace and find yourself accepting and dealing with physical pain more.

Guided Meditation

http://youtu.be/6vO1wPAmiMQ 

Technique

http://youtu.be/1UyJG2b8FMc

-Exercise 

This is the trickiest and yet the biggest key with fibromyalgia. Find and experiment with different exercises. The most beneficial exercises I have done was swimming and yoga and going to the gym. listen to your body but don't listen to hard. Push through the pain of working out even though it hurts but don't push to hard. Experimenting and finding activities or exercise that works for you and can tolerate. Keep trying until you find something don't give up it is not impossible! :) When your muscles and body is stronger you are able to handle the pain that fibro gives. You can do it    

Conclusion

I love how fibromyalgia has made me into the great person I am today. And for those of you suffering with fibro or loved ones that are my heart goes out to you. fibro is a controversial subject and everyone has their own experiences and opinion of fibro. Recognize the good in fibro it has brought to your life. Don't let the pain control you, accept that it is their and do something about it. Don't give up you can do it! 

And for those of you who have how have you done it? How have you gotten temporary relief? How have you supported your loved ones with fibromyalgia? What exercises have been beneficial to you?

Lets come together and help each other love our fibromyalgia and what it has taught us! :) 

My Health Challenge

*I am not a nutritionist nor athletic just personal opinion piece and based on personal experience*

So I have been struggling with my weight my whole life So finally today I am posting picture of myself in my height of 5'1 and 170 pounds. This picture is a pact that I will get myself to live a more healthy balanced life, physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. No I am not wanting to do this for a thigh gap or to skinny desires. I am beautiful the way I am! It is just time to be more balanced and healthy because I know it will help me with my overall life. This is not a contract to get myself skinny! This is my contract to be more positive and uplifting! :)

My Mental Goals
-positive thinking
avoid using the words should, always, never

-meditate daily

-clear the path with those that I have wronged or wronged me

-become closer to god and keep the spirit with me always

Physical Goals
-Try and experience different forms of exercise and activities

-Don't call myself fat, call myself unhealthy and do something about it

-Do spa days or massage therapy to relax body

-portion my meals better, eat more veggies, lower my sugar intake

 


I hereby sign this contract agreeing these goals and work to become a more confident, positive, and stronger person. I am a beautiful person!

X         Elizabeth Ann Holmes ____________________________

Single Fever

Our humanity cries for deep connection with other human beings, it's our instincts. We are programmed for love. and many times that instinct comes with a price of a broken heart or disappointment. Sometimes the aching to be in a relationship is so strong people can convince themselves "my life will only be better when I am with someone, or they will make me a better person" or feel that they are a failure because they could not hold the relationship. Many people may feel tired of being hurt over and over again or fear of rejection. These symptoms are part of what I call single fever. People can create basically a mentality that the only ways things are better is if your in a relationship. However, they couldn't be more wrong. I personally do not believe in soul mates because I think everyone has an opportunity to choose with their free agency what they want to do. whether it means hurting you or not. My treatment for single fever would be to remember who you are, the potential you have to become, and your desires for yourself. When your single get yourself ready and practice being the strongest and best person you can possibly be. Because by the time the next romantic relationship possibility occurs not only will you be more attractive but also an even better person for them. Use that time to be closer to god, to learn new skills, to work on bad habits, and etc. We don't have to wait around waiting for a prince/princess to sweep us off our feet. We need to use the time to better ourselves so we are ready for when they come and what they deserve. If we better ourselves then we can shake this fever from our lives.

Dating

Dating is like shopping for ice cream at the ice cream store. You see all these different flavors and sample them until you pick the one ice cream that's the best for you. Some people figure out what/who they want from the first flavor testing very quickly. Some sample so many flavors it makes it just as difficult to have the hope or the confidence to pick the very best ice cream. Some people are faced with a choice between a couple of flavors that could both potentially be the best ice cream to buy and etc etc etc...Everyone has their own experiences and with them people begin to create their own ideas, believes, and morals about how to date. Throughout the dating experience we can better understand traits that we dislike or like in other people we date, until finally finding the best fit. One problem with dating is we often struggle understanding the person we are dating beliefs from their own personal experiences. I hear day by day  topics debated about dating such as: whether or not guy should always open door for girl? How long should you wait till talk about marriage and kids when dating? How can I tell if these signals actually mean they like me? Is it ok for guys to ask girls out over texts? etc. depending on who you talk to, the answers to these topics are always going to constantly vary and probably even changing with the times.

One system people use to find their significant other is to make a list of qualities they want in the other person. Many times list can say things like physical appearance, personality traits, etc. I myself have found myself to put things on my list like loves music, physically fit, not to tall, etc. However, while these list of qualities/ingredients may help make the ice cream taste good the key to being committed to the ice cream flavor is whether or not that it is the best one to be committed to spending most amount of time with it and loving it. While many desirable qualities help us find that match I believe their are more important signs to finding the best match.
I believe a relationship and dating truly succeeds when god is in the relationship. As a Mormon in Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in my own personal opinion I think it is important to ask the questions: Do I constantly feel the spirit when I am with this person? Does this person uplift and edify me to keep my standards high? Does being with this person help me want to be closer to the temple and being temple worthy? Does being with this person make me want to be a better person and do I act on it?

Another reason I recently learned people have a hard time understanding how to date is because everyone likes to show love to each other in different ways. The ways we may liked to feel loved would not be as special or significant to another. The most accurate test I have taken in determining how you prefer to feel loved by others is the 5 love languages test. If you don't know what that test is, basically it is a test that tells you from highest to lowest score how you preferred to feel loved. The 5 different love languages are Physical Touch, Quality time, Words of Affirmation, Service, and Gifts. By taking this test when we are around our loved ones and especially those we date we can better understand how to show love in the most meaningful way to the other person. My highest score is quality time, when people truly spend time with me and give me their full undivided attention I feel very loved and appreciated by that person. However, I have dated people before that scored low in quality time and scored higher in other categories. I think understanding the love language of the person you are dating can be key to making it clear to other person that you care about them and help them feel loved in a way that even if it is not meaningful to you it is to them. here is the link if you wish to take the test
http://www.5lovelanguages.com/

In summary, I'm no expert in love but what I do know is dating is confusing.  But what do you think? Is their anything else that we can do to help ease the confusion of dating? If we can remember whats truly important in the long run then hopefully someday we can find the best ice cream for us that will bring true eternal joy and happiness.

*Opinion and Personal Experience Post*