It really would be so easy to bow my will to what seems to be the inevitable direction my health is headed. Particularly when it's winter. More particularly this winter. I think there is a bitter argument between winter and my arthritis every year. More so this year.

I expect pain when visiting the Podiatrist, the Physio and others like them. I tolerate this sort of pain as it has a beginning and an end - mostly. Not so for chronic conditions. For me, ‘chronic' means pain never going away. And that is a very different beast to the short version. Sometimes I'm asked, "How do you keep going?" Well, I have my faith, my wife without whom I'd be lost. Then there is our immediate and extended family. And I trust those in the healing professions. I struggle out of bed in the morning because it honours the patience and care of every one of these dear people. They help keep my head up, because I can't do it on my own. Starting my day is neither pretty nor graceful, I admit. But I get there eventually. Just don't give in to the condition.