Sand Castles Award

The joy of building sand castles lies in turning imagination into substance. Children build them only to later watch them be washed away by the ocean tides. This is the important part of the playfulness involved in building sand castles. It is what actually motivates children to keep on playing with the sand.

The same is true of life. In life, no sand castles are permanent. The tides of time will eventually wash them away. It is the erosion of the past by the emergence of the present and impending future that keeps us looking forward. Neuroendocrineimmune Disorders such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Gulf War Syndrome change the tides and leaves us wallowing in a tide pool of ambiguity.

We need to turn our eyes ahead again, and while we might not be able to build entire castles, we can still grasp constructive hope by simply trying.

The importance of constructive hope lies in helping others to take these small steps. As empowerment/support group facilitators, you are thriving sand castle builders. You are resilient. You are empowered. You are also selfless because you continuously share your mastery with others. You are also an inspiration! As empowerment group facilitators, you have collectively cupped your hands and shown others how to build sand castles of their own.

The “Sand Castles Award” was created especially for you, adapted from the inspiring words of John Herd, a fellow CFS/ME survivor and master thriver. It is a reflection of your dedication, your perseverance, your resilience and, mostly important, of your vision.

P.A.N.D.O.R.A., Inc. salutes you with admiration as we have chosen you to be the proud recipient of the