This is National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week (September13th - 19th).I had not heard of this site, until my newsletter from Chronic Babe arrived.
I have already found several things of interest, and if you or a loved one is affected by a chronic illness, I encourage you to go browse the articles.
Today, this one hit home.
Back when I first became ill, relatives told me they just ignore illness/pain until it goes away. "Work through it" I was advised, and phrases like 'mind over matter' were tossed my way.
I believed them; after all, I had already been through a lot, and I was able to work through it, to heal, to get on with life.
Perhaps the biggest shift in my paradigm was to acknowledge that ignoring pain does not make the effects go away. That I was a powerful person, but to use my power to ignore the pain and keep doing the every day things which harmed me was not a good idea.
Sure, it is a rush to 'overcome' and 'conquer' and 'rise above'.
But it is also stupid.
Like running full-tilt head-first into an iron door.
Your head will break before any dent is made in the iron.
Life has been better since I groked that iron doors are even more stubborn than I am.
4 comments:
I'd heard of this before, and it could use a slight editing, but http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory-written-by-christine-miserandino/ says it pretty well overall.
One day at a time, and I am glad you are feeling better. I would wake up in the morning and say to myself, this day will be better, even when my fever lasted for 10 days. I hope you are able to ride over the bumps and enjoy what you can.
There are so many ways to "overcome" and "conquer" and "rise above." It sounds like you have done all three -- in your own way and in a way that makes sense for your body. You are a powerful, wise woman. Thanks for speaking out and sharing your experience.
As the grand-daughter of a blacksmith, I can tell you that even iron will bend if heated enough....
(WV: knartype-- sounds like something Luna Lovegood would see in the corners...)
Post a Comment