I am Dysautonomic, Hear me Roar

I am dedicating this blog post to an old song (1972) by the great Helen Reddy "I Am Woman".  You can view and hear her sing it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUBnxqEVKlk.  I can think of no better anthem for dysautonomics, and those of us who are also women (but men too!) who have been dismissed by doctors, not listened to, and just generally beaten down by a chronic illness.  I'm also a fan of  Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger" but Helen's song is pretty darn cool.

I've posted the lyrics below. In my head, I replace the word "woman" with "spoonie" sometimes but I like it also as an anthem for women.  Either way, it says, "This is who I am, I am paying a price for it, but I am wiser and I certainly won't let anyone bring me down on account of it."  Thank you Helen Reddy!

I Am Woman, Artist: Helen Reddy
Words and Music by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton, 1972

I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

CHORUS
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

You can bend but never break me
'cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

CHORUS

I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my brothers understand

Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman