Shake It Not (The Fibromyalgia's Version)


Spoiler, My Body Doesn’t

When Taylor Swift released Shake It Off, it instantly became an anthem about brushing off negativity and dancing through life. The beat makes you want to move, to shake off the stress, the haters, and the weight of the world. But as someone living with fibromyalgia, let me just say… spoiler: my body doesn’t shake anything off.


If I tried to “shake it off” the way Taylor does on stage, I’d probably end up flat on the couch with a flare that lasted three days. My body doesn’t exactly approve of spontaneous dancing or carefree movements. In fact, sometimes just reaching for something on a high shelf can feel like an Olympic event.


But here’s where I find the humor: fibro might stop me from physically shaking things off, but I’ve learned to mentally shake them off instead. I laugh at the absurdity of my body’s rules — like how a short walk can leave me sore, but folding laundry somehow feels like I’ve run a marathon. I shake off the guilt that tries to creep in when I have to cancel plans. And I shake off the idea that my worth is measured by how much I can do.


Instead, I groove in my own way. Maybe I can’t jump up and down to the beat, but I can nod along, wiggle my fingers, or do a slow sway in my pajamas at 3 p.m. (with a heating pad strapped to my back, of course). That still counts as dancing in my book.


So yes, Taylor, I can’t shake it off like you, but I can laugh at myself while singing along. And sometimes, laughter is even more powerful than movement. Fibromyalgia may not let me dance like I used to, but it hasn’t stolen my rhythm or my joy. I just find new ways to “shake it off” — slowly, gently, and always with a sense of humor.

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