It answered my definition of resilience. A man needing a wheelchair and a Guide Dog getting out for his morning coffee.
It answered my definition of resilience. A man needing a wheelchair and a Guide Dog getting out for his morning coffee.
I'm learning to listen to a new resilience ‘guide book’ that connects with those of us acquainted with chronically painful conditions and the effects on their hosts.
Grappling with uncertainty is life-changing, for better or for worse.
I met a man who mumbled "I just gotta push through."
I haven't yet learned how to think and conduct myself as one who is very close to being completely blind.
Like millions of others I'm over self isolation, yet I like those millions of others, will do what is asked of me because I have accepted this life is short and not all about me.
All of these incidents happened the same day. Each was not all that earth-shattering but happening so close together gave me a rude shock. I wasn't ready for an overwhelming sense of disappointment and vulnerability that covered my mind and spirit with a heavy darkness.
A few minutes after we started at the neighbour's place, another neighbour came over to give us a hand.
Self isolation provides me thinking time. I get to reset (where necessary) values that make it clear what is really important.
In the present circumstances of Corona Virus, kindness is rapidly being recognised as the gift that is a force for good.
But a version of Murphy's Law soon visited me and it hasn't left yet. It is one thing to declare something to be true. It is another thing to fully grasp that truth in every day living.
It dawned on me our friendly new neighbour is a drummer! And his un-soundproofed practice room is right under our bedroom window.
The other night my emotional roof caved in all because I couldn't see enough to unravel the sleeve of a shirt I had hung on our bathroom door handle.
This athlete remains my champion to this day. He just would not give in to his pain and disability.
There is a strong similarity between doing a marathon and coping with chronic pain.
No matter how hard I try, I can't fully imagine experiences I haven't had.
I shake my head at the many times in a week I have to remind myself that coping with a chronic condition is a marathon not a sprint.
The quality of a person's 'diamonds' is more important than their number.
Navigating through a busy shopping centre is a slow motion version of driving up the highway the wrong way.
I just find by spending time being thankful for my Good List, somehow I receive a quiet dignity to help me cope with what is on my Not-So-Good list.