Dear stranger,
Dear Stranger,
I hope you’ve been well. Before I begin I want to express my gratitude for the support you’ve give me. This week was especially difficult for me for a number of reasons. The one thing that helped me persevere was knowing that I have a community that understands me. Life is already difficult as is,I was scared to put it all out there, to be so vulnerable, but your comments gave me strength and confidence I didn’t know I needed. Thank you for that. Truly.
I wanted to share something new with you. I’ve started writing a story, fiction, but rooted in my own experiences—called “A Journey Through the Fog”. It’s about navigating life when everything feels hazy, unclear, and overwhelming. The fog, for me, represents the struggles I face with fibromyalgia, one being the forgetfulness. It’s always there, clouding my mind, weighing on my body, but writing about it has given me a strange sense of solace. There’s something therapeutic about creating a world where I can give my pain a voice, a narrative that I can shape, even when my real life feels so out of control.
Work has been… tough, to say the least. Every day, it feels like a mountain I’m forced to climb, even when my legs can barely carry me. The stress of just showing up, of putting on a brave face when everything inside me is screaming to stop, it’s taking a toll on every part of my life. It’s demanding—physically, mentally, emotionally—and some days, it feels like it’s draining the last bits of energy I have. I keep thinking, there has to be something less stressful, something that won’t eat away at me. But the bills don’t stop, and the reality is, I can’t afford to quit just yet.
I’m considering offering a paid subscription option for the short stories I told you about. They’re personal, raw, and they’ve become a way for me to find my strength again. Writing makes me feel like I’m taking some control back, and maybe, sharing these stories can not only help me but also resonate with others who are struggling with this too.
I know the subscription won’t replace my job or cover the bills. It’s just a thought right now, and if I do go through with it, the monthly fee would be less than a cup of coffee. I understand completely if it’s not something you can or want to subscribe to—times are tough for so many of us. The stories would be shared twice a month, and I’m hoping they bring some comfort or connection.
If you have any feedback or ideas, I’d love to hear them—please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. Just knowing that you’re here, reading, is already a gift in itself.
Thank you again for being here, for reading, for offering me strength when I was feeling so lost. You’ve made this journey feel a little lighter.
With gratitude and hope,
This Fibro Chick
Hi Sarah,
I'm so glad someone else asked to know your name (in the comments of your previous post), because I wanted to ask the same question. I know you said you don't want fibromyalgia to define you, but thinking of you as This Fibro Chick seems rather at odds with that - so I'm glad to know your name.
When I was enquiring into why/how I ended up with fibro, I realised I'd been hiding for most of my life, mainly because I didn't feel safe. In particular I felt like it wasn't safe to be myself and reveal my true thoughts and feelings in this world. I have had to make a conscious effort to come out from hiding and only recently changed my profile photo from a flower to one of me.
To answer your question, I personally wouldn't pay for a subscription for the short stories but I can offer another kind of support for your writing. If ever you feel drawn to publish your stories as a Kindle book on Amazon, I would be glad to help with that. I have some experience with self-publishing and would be happy to help. That could potentially open up a wider audience for you and bring in a bit more money.
There is so much more I would like to say in response to what you have written but I'm really up against it at the moment with moving home - which is beginning to feel like I'm actually moving the house - so I'll save those sharings for another time.
Do keep on writing, especially as it gives you strength. I found myself having all sorts of creative ideas reading your story. So keep going and you have my support.
I'll share some more with you after I've recovered from moving.
All the best
Rob
Absolutely! This is me and my life, it’s very hard and I feel like others don’t fully understand how bad I’m feeling, I’m so glad I’ve found you! 🥹