With Love, Alexa

Be Forever Strong

Forever Strong: The Story Behind My Phrase

Forever Strong has been my catch phrase over the last few years. We all have a story behind what we say even if we don’t realize it.

Why Forever Strong?

I chose the phrase Forever Strong because there have been days where I feel like it is too tough to go on and what’s the point. When my pain hits its threshold I will sometimes wonder if I can truly handle living like this for the rest of my life.

I have always liked the idea of the infinity symbol and it’s representation of forever. For a while I used the saying rise because I couldn’t think of the word I wanted. One day the phrase forever strong came into my head and I have used it ever since.

Using My Phrase To Help Others

I started using the hashtag #foreverstrong in all of my posts for With Love, Alexa. I continued to use it in my speeches, videos, and everyday life. I realized there was more that could be done. That is when I started to create merchandise. Originally it started out for just me to wear around, but then I finally created a couple of pieces that I wanted to sell.

My mission is to help people who feel like they don’t have a voice, or who feel like the are alone. At one point I was in such a bad place because no one could figure out what was wrong with me. Doctors were telling me they couldn’t help me anymore and sent me elsewhere. I also had a Doctor basically tell me it was in my head and that I am normal and healthy. I knew I wasn’t and I made it my mission to advocate for myself because in that moment I realized I am the ONLY one who knew my body better than anyone. I had amazing support with my family, my boyfriend and friends, but there were days I felt so alone.

How We Can All Stay Forever Strong

The more we talk about our stories and share how strong we are. The more likely we can help those who really need it. After COVID 19 I decided it was time to do something. I finally created my shirts and sweatshirts where I will donate 20% of all items sold to help fight this horrible pandemic. Once this is done I will then work on donating to invisible illness because that is another epidemic that is hard to fight.

REPEAT WITH ME… WE ARE ALL FOREVER STRONG

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of Traveling in Pain

With everything we do in life there is the good, the bad and the ugly.

Traveling for most people is pretty standard. We pack, go to the airport, check our luggage in, go through security, walk around and wait to get on the plane.

That is just the first part.

Then we sit on the plane from anywhere from 45 minutes to hours on end and once in a while we have stop overs.

Then we get off the plane, pray our suitcase isn’t lost and go to wherever we are going to be staying. Don’t forget we have to do it all over again at the end of our trip.

Sounds pretty exhausting for anyone, right?

Right, but just think about having to do all of this while in massive amounts of pain. Just sitting on a plane for a few hours or driving an hour I’m ready to rip my body parts out of place.

I recently went on a cruise for a week and I learned a little more about the good, the bad and the ugly of traveling in pain.

The Good: Getting to Get Out Of Town

My favorite part of going on vacation is usually just being able to get away from everyday life. Hopefully it’s some place warm and the sun is shining.

The cruise for me was a much needed getaway with doing nothing, but relaxing by the pool, reading and just having fun. We didnt have a worry in the world and because I was able to relax I noticed my pain wasn’t always off the charts.

Being able to get away is always the best thing for anyone because can you imagine staying in the status quo constantly 24/7. Everyone needs some TLC and sunshine.

The good is relaxing by the beach and doing what makes you happy

The Bad: The Travel Days, The Lifting Heavy Luggage

With the good there always comes the bad. As much fun as getting away to relax is, it can be equally exhausting. Travel days are the worst for me because I hate the sitting around, worrying about everything going smoothly, eating the crappy airplane food and all of the heavy lifting we have to do.

Travel days when we are going somewhere aren’t as bad because you at least get to look forward to relaxing. When traveling home most times it is worse because you know you are going back to everyday life.

After these times I typically need a day or two of recovery, which can put you back even more.

Unfourtunately if you love to travel you will have no choice, but to endure the bad with the good.

With the good comes the bad. This picture was after the plane ride on our way to Florida

The Ugly: Going From One Temperature to Another

We have talked about the good with traveling and the bad. Now we are going to talk about the ugly. The worst part for me is when I am going from two different climates.

The cruise was warm and sunny. I had to come back to the cold and gloomy. The minute I was back in the cold my body started acting up. It took everything I had in me not to turn right back around.

The most important lesson I have learned with my pain and traveling is to go in the same weather so there isn’t such a drastic change. Even though I like to get away in the cold it ends up doing more harm than good.

I like going in May or June as it is warm out here in Michigan and wherever I am going in the Carribean or pretty much all over the US. Not only is it better for my pain, but my mental state as well.

4 Beauty Routine Tips For Invisible Illness Warriors

Beauty and fashion can be one of the few ways that we can set ourselves apart. What happens when that is suddenly taken away from us.

Maybe you are someone who is up on all of the fashion trends?

Maybe you are someone who is doing your makeup and hair full out everyday?

Maybe you are someone in between the above two options?

Regardless of what you consider yourself it’s a part of who you are.

Like I mentioned earlier, what would you do if that was taken from you, or had to be changed drastically?

As most of you know I have Central Pain Syndrome, which is a neurological disorder due to damage to the brain, brain-stem, or spine. The nerves in my brain don’t work properly. Certain types of touch such as wearing tight pants and any kind of pressure can give me bruises.

I used to be the one who loved to get dolled up. I wore jeans and leggings constantly with cute tops. Now after having CPS for the last few years, I can no longer wear leggings. Jeans are typically for a short amount of time and have to be stretchy. Most times while I am doing my hair and make-up I want to cry because of the burning sensation in my arms from the movement or it just exhausts me.

I have talked to so many others who suffer from invisible illnesses that go through the same things that I do and it can be detrimental to our mental health.

I have come up with a few tips and tricks that i have learned along the way.

Beauty Tip 1: Less is More

I have learned that if you can limit your beauty routine to the basics it will help you to save your energy and you can still look like you tried. I typically put on Foundation, blush and depending on the day I will put eyeliner and shadow. For the most part, it takes me 5 minutes and I feel good about myself all the same. Some of my favorite products include Clinique liquid foundation, Mac blush, Mary Kay eyeliner and I just started using a new eyeshadow palette.

This is my beauty routine and what I use everyday

Beauty Tip 2: Save Your Spoons For Special Occasions

Similar to what I mentioned in tip #1 it is better to do less when possible. There will always be times when we have to go all out with our make up and hair. I know from experience if I had to go all out every day with some days having to do it more than once I wouldn’t be able to do much after tha. It’s also good for your skin not to cake on a bunch of makeup every day. I love nights that I do go out and put more make up on because I feel like I am ready to take on the world.

Besides make up, hair is another big part when it comes to getting ready. Even more so than my makeup, my hair is what makes me miserable. I used to have long hair and at one point i was tired of taking the time to do it everyday. I decided to make it shorter. It was the best decision I ever made. Most days I either quickly go over it with my straightener or I use one of my many accessories to look cute and not add to my pain.

Beauty Tip 3: Have Someone Help You

This isn’t always easy or available to you, but if you have the chance to have someone help you I highly recommend it. Before anyone freaks out I don’t mean a stylist or makeup artist. I just mean another set of hands so you don’t have to. There are so many times I will have my mom help me, or if I am with a friend they will help out with my hair. It saves us many “spoons” and it might even turn out better than you planned from having another set of hands doing spots you can’t.

If you are reading this as someone who knows someone with an invisible illness you could also take charge and help them with their hair or makeup. Sometimes we don’t want to ask for help because we feel that we have to do this on our own to feel whole.

Beauty Tip 4: Use Accessories

My last tip and i partly mentioned this above, but I love accessories. I wear cute hats, headbands or even just throwing my hair up in a messy bun to not have to bother. These are such easy ways to be cute, but comfortable at the same time and they won’t take hours to do.

I love doing small braids and tying them, I wear beanies a lot and baseball caps with sayings. When I have to go somewhere nicer I will take the time to really do my hair. I also typically shower at night and let me hair dry on its own most days. If I shower earlier in the day I make sure to give myself a lot of time to be able to give myself a break in between.

There are so many ways to be able to make yourself look and feel good without over doing it and hurting for days. I hope some of these helped and if you have others feel free to share them in the comments below.

These hats can be some of the best beauty accessories I have ever used
Love these hats from Express and Vineyard Vines

**Some of the links in here are affiliate links and I may earn compensation if you buy something from the link, but it won’t affect you.

With Love,

Alexa

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