“If things don’t seem right, try going left.”
― Jill Shalvis, Head Over Heels
Change of pace this week. Free week! And with the girls on holidays last week I honestly couldn’t think of anything I wanted, needed or liked to talk about. I got into a routine of laziness and my mind’s even blank thinking about the Tuesday Tales I’ve got to write for, you’ve guessed it, Tuesday.
My eldest daughter did her radio program last week (she’s just a gem and a natural yapper) and one of the songs she wanted to play was Leann Rimes “How do I live without you” from the Nicolas Cage movie “Con Air”, but we ‘only’ had (although my preferred choice) Trisha Yearwood’s version. She shook her head, no. So we moved on. Later that day, absolutely exhausted from five hours in the studio, I just wandered around the net and came upon a site by Lachlan Payne, a blogger who kindly has “liked” a few of my posts, but I’ve never met, never had anything to do with, or even heard of. On this blog post he talks about living with a chronic illness and I went to bed that night thinking “How would I live without it” (with Trisha Yearwood’s voice in my mind 😉 )?
I won’t go into details of my ailments, but it’s annoying that with every doctor’s appointment I’ve got another one to be stacked on top of the pile. I sometimes sit on the couch wondering how it would be, not being tired all the time, or itchy, or being able to eat take-away burgers my girls or just not having to go to bed at 8pm because the migraine is killing me. There’s that moment where I say, YES please, but then the moment disappears and I think of the wonderful things in my life. If I didn’t have my crappy
body, would I still have my gorgeous girls, or the caring husband? Lachlan finished his blog with “So, in short, living with a chronic illness is a real party and that’s your answer” – I wouldn’t go quite as far as that, but, hey, life’s good!
So I finish this blog post with “Life’s basically what you make of it!”, and I’m determined to make mine a happy and fullfilled one.
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
Hugs Iris.
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Thank you Lily !!!
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I am so sorry,Iris. I did not realize that several of us are coping with chronic illness;( I recently found out about another.) My hat is off to your supportive family.It isn’t easy to find understanding “Healthies” out there, which is why so many suffering people become insufferable complainers; they just want SOMEONE to understand, but it backfires on them.It does no good for them or anyone around them.I do, however, understand their frustration.It is hard when your own body betrays you.
So, we simply keep as good an attitude as possible and we do what we can, when we can, right? I have learned to find at least one blessing in all this: weakness in body often leads to strength of character.We are better prepared to face difficulties in life than those who are healthy and seem to breeze through until they are suddenly confronted with a crisis and they fall apart. Falling apart is not an option for us.
So I wish for you to feel as well as possible,Iris… may you lows be less and your highs be often!
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Oh Tonette, don’t feel sorry, because that’s not really what I was aiming for. Quite the opposite. I feel we’ve become so stuck in a rutt as a society, wanting more of this and more of that, but most of all (especially here in Australia), perfectness – if that word exsist. I wanted to say, that even though life might not be the way you imagined it when you were a teenager or in your twenties, you’re the one creating the path in front of you and try to remember that little things are part of the bit thing and should be appareciated!
Phew …. that’s a looooot of good words from me today ….
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I think Tonette expressed it well.
Without pounding out details, let me say that I’ve had several decades of physical problems. While I would not wish them on anyone else, I can look back and recognize that they’ve made me more patient, more compassionate, and (most of all) more understanding of others who have ailments which are not always “visible” to most people.
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You are SO right, Jeff! What I have written about for tomorrow touches on a permanent lifelong disability. I have a friend with MS, and we do joke about “invisible disabilities,” We both appear like those Tonette mentioned who ‘breeze through life.” It often does little good to try to make others understand what they CANNOT see! Like you, I might venture to say my problem has brought out the best in me. 🙂
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Eager to see your post tomorrow, Janette, on our week where no topic is out of bounds.
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Agree Jeff, although I’ve got to admit, the patience and compassion came with having kids …LOL. But yes, we judge people w/out knowing the “why” ?
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Life is too short to dwell on negatives. I’m so sorry for your pain, but I’m so glad you have chosen to celebrate the good things. Be happy!
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Thanks Patty. Righteo … “don’t worry be happy” !
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Iris,
You’re one of my most awesome FB friend/fellow writers, and as you’re aware this is a subject I know all too well. I, too, have wondered how things would be had I never been afflicted with all my health stuff, and I really don’t know how it all would be now. I already had my hubby and kids when everything happened to me, but I also agree that I have far more patience and understanding now—though I’ve always been like that—than I had before. Thanx for sharing this. 😀
*hugs*
~Ressa~
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Ressa – I’m so glad you’ve made it over here. Yes, when writing the post I did think of you as well. I know you have your good days and the not so good ones – BUT you’re always smiling (through the virtual world of internet) and you’re always helping others! THANK YOU!
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Iris! I can’t believe it! Were you reading over my shoulder as I typed my blog to appear here tomorrow? What I’ve written about is not about anything “chronic,” so to speak, but it is, in a way, about making the bad in life, good. Your words are what a LOT of people need to read. Life is all in how you look at it.
Janette Harjo
Romance through the mists of time,
Love through the dimensions of reality
Watch for the CONNECTIONS Trilogy, coming soon
from Books To Go Now!
http://www.bookstogonow.com
http://www.authorjanetteharjo.blogspot.com
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LOL … They say I do that a lot. Must be the aura around me. I look forward to reading you post, Janette, tomorrow (although here it’s today already 🙂 ) … And thanks for your kind words!
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Iris, you inspire me. Thank you for this post.
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Thank you for your kind words and for stopping by. Much appreciated.
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Iris, I love your post., I’ve lived with a chronic problem since childhood, and I’ve always said “You either manage it or it manages you.” I chose to manage it ,and my life has been so blessed (3 kids, 11 grands, 1 great-grand) and a lot more living to do. You are wise to see the blessings in your life, too. And to do it with charm, talent, and grace. ((hugs))
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I had nooooo idea there were so many out there … it’s like opening pandoras box. I agree with what you said re how to manage it. It’s take me a long time to get to that point, but I think something’s inside me’s clicked and I’m on the right track!
Thanks for stopping by, and, sorry to hear that you’ve “got the problem” as well!
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Ah, the invisible disability and invisible illness, how they love to complicate our lives. Mine has recently shown improvement which has made my life easier. For years before that I struggled with learning to manage it, trying not to let it run my life, and having a life despite it.
We have to live our lives and try to turn the negatives into positives. Blessings to you Iris, and to everyone dealing with a chronic illness.
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Hi there … thanks for stopping by.
so glad you’ve had some improvemen, and yes, i know exactly what you’re talking about re the managing of this evil! But in the end it makes us a stronger person I believe!
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