Seeking Compassion Within

"If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all".
 
All my siblings and I were taught this from an early age. It is sound advice.
 
A situation has just arisen whereby I find it most difficult to either say something nice, OR to feel compassion for another.
 
I have a female sibling who is literally incapable of speaking the truth. Ever. About anything.
 
Now ... I do realize that "truth" is an ephemeral and highly subjective thing. My truth may not be your truth and so on. Still, there is your truth and my truth, then there is THE truth!
 
I have had a mini-stroke (TIA). That is the truth. My sibling insisted she had experienced a heart attack (just like me ... (!) except I never had a heart attack). Upon having her memory refreshed, she then maintained she had experienced a stroke.
 
Both my daughters and I were diagnosed with fibromyalgia (at vastly different points in our lives). My sibling then informed me she had fibromyalgia. As it happens, one of my daughters was subsequently diagnosed with lupus and her doctors indicated that because lupus mimics many other disorders, it is particularly difficult to determine it as the definitive diagnosis without a long history of collective symptoms. Now, my sister has lupus.
 
And? ... you may ask. Here is the thing - fibromyalgia is heritable, in that the tendency (as with all disorders and diseases) exists as a marker on a persons' DNA. If that marker is triggered, you will develop the disorder - same thing with lupus. This is where it gets interesting insofar as my sisters' diagnosis is concerned. She and I have the same parents. The marker for fibro is on our DNA - the marker for lupus isn't. My daughter inherited the marker for lupus from her paternal side! 
 
These are just two examples of a never-ending litany whereby whatever is afflicting myself or my daughters is almost immediately followed by the same affliction(s) in my sister.  
 
When I read her latest "diagnosis", which her doctor was able to determine in less than two weeks with a simple CBC (complete blood work-up) I completely lost the milk of human kindness. I am furious, but not for the reasons you may expect.
 
I am livid because we were also taught not to court disaster by lying about things. In the first place, if you lie about it you attract that energy into your life and instead of that particular illness, you may attract something far worse. Secondly, when you are capable and fully effective in your own life (and seen to be) you essentially "steal" from the person who is genuinely afflicted and coping the best way they know how, against tremendous odds. You belittle their struggle and their strengths. It indicates an absence of compassion for the person truly afflicted and a selfishness that defies all understanding.
 
Am I angry? Perhaps. Angry on behalf of my daughters, who I see overcoming virtually insurmountable obstacles on a daily basis and doing so with grace and determination. They work SO HARD to have a "normal" life, and this woman (my sister) who is blessed with health and strength, would make little of their efforts.   
 
I will work to develop compassion for my sister - not because she has physical health issues (she doesn't) but because she clearly has mental health issues for which she desperately requires treatment.
 
moone

What the ... ?

All I wanted to do was check out a new blog by someone I know (rather well, actually). I tried to post a comment and was told to sign in ... and before you could say "lickety-split" I had my own page. Go figure!

If history repeats itself this will undoubtedly be my one and only entry ... but if you should happen by, check back now and then ... 'cause who knows?

In the event that I find myself motivated, you won't likely find anything "child" friendly here. Juat so you know ... and now I am going to try and go back to the blog I was looking for and attempt to post a comment!

So be it!