Brought to you by the letter J

My blogging absence has been in part from my inability to get the thoughts out of my head and on to the computer. Today may be a multi-blogging type of day.

Today I feel overly compelled to honour someone who has been a part of my life since I was a young impressionable girl. Someone who touches the lives around her in a deep way despite the crap she's going through. That woman is Jolene.

I first met Jolene when I was in grade 5 or 6. We both went to a small, private Christian school where unfortunately judgmental attitudes seemed to rule. Neither of us were "preppy" and that alone made it difficult for us. Jolene had another challenge. She started at the school in Junior High when many of her classmates had been together from grade 1. Hard crowd to break into.

But the most admirable thing I remember of those times was that Jolene was always true to herself and no matter how much the others hurt her she was there to meet their needs when she could. She doesn't hold grudges she holds grace, love and integrity.

For many years I lost touch with Jolene but was overwhelmingly happy to reconnect via Facebook a few years ago. She hasn't changed. Well, she's now a mother but the core of who she is hasn't changed. Jolene continues to give as much as she possibly can to those around her. When a life afflicted with chronic pain kept her homebound more she reached out to the online community with her blog and quest to build a new community. A community for people afflicted or touched by a life of chronic pain.

It started with a blog 'Graceful Agony'. The most appropriate name to describe Jolene's life. Despite her physical pain and the emotional pain that life brings Jolene does it all with a grace I aspire to have.

I tend to sit back and quietly observe this community but it is growing rapidly and Jolene is getting recognized for her efforts. Most of the time I am just in awe of the strength and determination that Jolene possess to keep on forging a better path for all of us who are suffering with chronic pain. I myself have fibromyalgia and despite it not being as life altering as many in the Graceful Agony community I, in my darkest hours, am inspired by all who day after day wake up and determine that their pain will not rule their life and they will have as normal a life as possible.

Beyond Graceful Agony Jolene is also a mother. What I love most about her mothering is that her little man comes first. As I write this he is battling a fever, Jolene is in extreme pain but she presses on to be there for him. This is not an easy task! When you have blinding pain the last thing you want to deal with is a puking 10 year old with a fever over 101! Jolene however shares her struggles with us and allows us the opportunity to give back to her (although this is not her motive, she shares to explain why she's not blogging - crazy lady!). I am no longer shocked by how many people post encouragement to Jolene's FB wall when she admits to having a bad day.

I could go on and on about how much Jolene means to me but I'll stop here. Check her out for herself at http://gracefulagony.wordpress.com/ Even if you don't suffer from chronic pain or know someone who does it will give you insight into the lives of people around you that may be suffering in silence with chronic pain and maybe, just maybe, you might become infected by the desire to constantly strive to improve the lives of those around you. Even if those around you are online, you've never met them, and may never see them face to face. It's a new age.

My question to you is this - who has touched your life is a similar way? Who do you know that deserves to be honoured publicly? Post your stories on your blogs and leave a link in my comments and lets start honouring those that deserve to be honoured. Don't have a blog, then just tell the story in the comments.

Namaste