Practicing Intentional Gratitude

Welcome to the new home of Practicing Intentional Gratitude. I’m warriormare, also known as Hedwyg. The name warriormare came from this comic strip, which was highlighted on boingboing. But since I’m a woman, and proud of it, I’m a mare rather than a stallion. But hey – who says a woman can’t carry a spear? I’m a kickass woman, and I know I carry power. It may not be as obvious as the spear on a unicorn’s forehead, but I can take care of myself.

I’m in my late 30s, remarried to the awesome maplestar after divorce.  I have two teenaged children and two kitties. I’m a member of Old Donation Episcopal Church in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia, as well as a novice Sister in the Anglican Order of Preachers, also known as the Anglican Dominicans. I love the colours pink and purple, critters of all kinds (though I’d prefer not to have to touch spiders, snakes, and scorpions, thankyouverymuch), beauty in any form I can find it, music, Chinese food, maplestar, and the nectar of the gods: Diet Dr Pepper. I variously describe myself as a mother, software engineer, flutist (never ever flautist!), chorister, voracious reader, writer, poet, Anglican, Episcopalian, Christian, mystic, sillyhead, goofypants, and sometimes even b*tchfromh*ll.

I struggle with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Hypermobility Type, which has caused chronic pain for me since August 2006.  I am fortunate to have avoided any episodes of Major Depression (with which I was diagnosed in 1998) in over seven years, and to have been free of the psychoactive meds for treating and preventing both depressive and hypomanic episodes since 2004.  There have been some times of despair related to the chronic pain, but nothing that has lasted long enough to be a full-blown depressive episode.  I am very thankful that the depression is in remission, and will admit that though I would not wish the pain and fear of a mental illness on anyone, I would not trade the lessons I have learned through it for anything.

Welcome to our home on WordPress – hope you’ll hang around and click some posts, and maybe even find something that interests you.  Feel free to leave comments, or to email warriormare at hedwyg (at) gmail (dot) com.  Peace be with you!