Patience Is A Virtue

Ever since I was a little kid, I never had any patience.  I remember my mom telling me that when I grew up, I'd become more patient.  I honestly don't think that ever happened for me though  lol.  We've all always heard that "patience is a virtue" and I'm sure we've all heard the saying "good things come to those who wait".  While both of those sayings may be true, I really believe that "the best things come to those who do".  I think a person needs to combine a little patience, with a little proactiveness to achieve what they're trying to do. 

Since February, I've wanted to break into public speaking.  I've wanted to present a seminar on living with chronic pain, from a patient's point of view.  I knew that making this a new career would take a little time, so I needed to be patient while waiting on that first big break.  I also knew, that I had to keep trying to get that first big break myself, or it'd never come. 

Avenues of social media is my new best friend.  I've blogged about wanting to present seminars, and I've tweeted about it.  I even have a face bookpage for the blog that I've shared my desires on, as well as my own personal facebook page.  If I didn't get the message out there that I wanted to educate and advocate for those living with a chronic pain and/or invisible illness, then no one would know that's what I want to do.  I wasn't going to get an email out of the blue, dropping a gig straight into my lap. 

I vowed not only to myself, but to all of you as well, that I'd never give up on trying to educate and advocate for all of us.  My hope is to bring understanding about our conditions to others, so that more people stand up and advocate for more research.  I also want to reach out to those of us, that are living with an illness, so that no one feels alone.  I want to bring real statistics into play.  I want to give those of us that need them, resources to help us cope with both the physical and mental problems we face on a day to day basis.

I've remained persistant, and plowed forward with determination.  Do you know what?  It's paid off!  I finally have my first big break.  I have a large church that approved allowing me to use their sanctuary to hold a chronic pain seminar.  After I have one or two under my belt, it'll make it so much easier for me to get other gigs.  Advertising for the seminar is my next obstacle, but I'll figure it out.  The old saying "it takes money to make money" is unfortunately very true, but then again so is the saying "where there's a will, there's a way". 

There are ways to advertise rather inexpensively, and I'll be exploring those options over the next few days.  Whatever it is that you do, whether it be pray, send good thoughts, send positive vibes, please do.  I'm praying to find several cheap ways to really get the advertisement out there for the seminar, and I'm praying that I have a good turn out for it.  I more then welcome your good thoughts and/or prayers for the same thing!  I've felt all along that I became sick for a reason, and that reason is to advocate.  My persistance, determination, and tenacity is finally going to be rewarded.  I vowed I'd never stop trying, and I'm proud to say that even though it's been a long time coming, the time is finally here!  Persistance and patience finally has paid off!