If you’re a regular visitor to The Tin Mom Blog, you probably noticed the gap since my last post in May. To those who sent messages inquiring about my absence, thank you for your concern. There are a number of reasons for the pause, but we’re back now and look forward to reading your comments. For the remainder of this year, Arthritis Today and I agreed to post The Tin Mom Blog monthly rather than weekly. The new blogs will go up on the second Wednesday of the month.
As many of you know, Arthritis is much more than minor aches and pains. It can be a wicked disease robbing a person from living their life to the fullest. Not only does it break down the bodies, joints and bones, which can lead to physical disabilities, it equally damages a person’s emotions and spirit, causing one to question their worthiness to themselves, family, friends and life in general.
The majority of my blogs speak of my personal battles with rheumatoid arthritis, along with the accompanying secondary illnesses, and the impact the disease as a whole has had on my life since being diagnosed 25 years ago.
Although the journey has been difficult and not something I’d wish on anyone, I remain positive and will repeat my words from early on – “As bad as my days can be, I would not trade my life with anyone. RA has made me the person I am today!”
Having had 32 operations and a host of medical treatments over the last 25 years, I view life as a gift and try to find the positive in every negative. RA may be robbing me from my life, but it’s up to me to continue living it! My body is brittle and weak, yet I am strong!
Every day I make a conscious decision to live my life to the fullest. It’s not easy, but I do it – for myself, family, friends and the people I’ve met along the way who’ve inspired me.
In recent months, I’ve battled numerous health issues stemming from RA, my weakened immune system and intense pain. The added illnesses are bad enough then comes the tests, more medication and new unknowns, which can lead to more of the same, and the vicious cycle continues.
At times I feel as though I’m losing the battle, but then I focus on the positives around me and realize I am in control of how my day will unfold. Yes, there will be frustrations, inabilities and a handful of pills, but only if I allow them to become the focus. Instead I do what I have to do for the disease, accept what I cannot do then – relying on my inner strengths – I decide to live happy today.
How do you live your life to the fullest while battling a chronic illness? Do you rely on humor, spirituality, nature, loved ones or a combination of things? Many people struggle with the negatives and do not know how to see the positives. Please share your tips below to help them.
As of late I am struggling with living life fully and battling the demons of self-pity and negativity. Summer is the worst for me because there are soooo many things I'd rather be doing but can't. This is my fourth summer in chronic pain.
So what do I do? Well I read....I have several inspiring authors and of course the Bible, which I have to read almost daily to keep me motivated. It's funny that sometimes I have to MAKE myself read these things.
Somedays it takes a great deal of mental self-discipline to get up off the couch and do something productive. But I do. I feel good about the scarves and throw blankets that I crocket to donate to the seniors. It takes a while to finish one, but it is a great sense of accomplishment.
I take pictures now. Whatever is outside the window...birds, squirrels, rabbits...I take pictures. I load them on the computer and spend time cropping them and making them "just right". I never would have done that four years ago.
I still work full-time and it is a daily, if not hourly, struggle to get through each day. What do I do? Some days I have to close my office door on my lunch hour, put my head down on my desk and either nap or rest in that quiet, in-between state.
What Dray said so perfectly applys to me also... my spirit, faith and strength are constantly ebbing and flowing. And what Annette said about being in control of how the day unfolds is so true. We are in control of so much more than we think. The key for me is to remember that I am in control.
Over the weekend, I watched the fireworks with a friend, bald from cancer and chemotherapy and preparing for this week's treatment. We sat by the lake and the moon played hide and seek with the coulds while the fireworks exploded across the sky. And I thought, THIS is a moment that will never be again, whether or not he beats the disease, we will never have that moment again. And I believe part of the reason I was able to stop and freeze frame that moment is due to our unique need and ability to appreciate our "good days" because we never know what the next day, week or month will bring.
Leave a Comment