We make choices every minute of every day. We choose to read or we choose to watch TV. We choose to exercise or we choose to sleep. We choose to help or we choose to stand on the sidelines. We choose to reach out to others or we choose to hide behind our doors. We choose to sink or we choose to swim.

Choosing to become involved with the support group, is a choice that can broaden your circle of friends. It can give your day a purpose. Becoming involved can help you forget your pain for a few minutes, can help someone else live through a few more minutes of pain without tears. You could give someone else the courage to face another day.

It is my hope that you will choose to grow, to reach out to the community, to educate community members, family members, and each other. I would like to see each of us learn to speak out knowledgeably about our illness and no longer feel we must hide in the shadows because others do not know our illness.

One person speaking out is like a drop of water; many people speaking out can change public awareness and perception. I am becoming bolder at speaking to others about FMS/CFS. Alone, I can change the outlook of only a few people. But all of us, speaking out with knowledge and kindness, can change public awareness and perception. Join me! The battle belongs to all of us.