Every January I am reminded that I get a new chance, kind of like a reset button on my views. We need a lot of new chances because being so ill for so long is such a bizarre experience. You know what it is like, we can easily get lost in the trees and not see the forest. The beginning of each year is like getting to pull all the chaos of chronic illness into meaningful movement. Come on, let’s find the light of hope and move through the trees of chronic illness…
Nope, last year’s view was not necessarily wrong if you declared that chronic illness sucked! It does, no getting around that one. On one of my bad days, I created a free PDF called Suckiness of Chronic Illness just to blow off some steam.
Truth is not to be squelched, chronic illness is a tough life experience. But then what? After getting mad, then what? After a good long pity party, then what?
I like the idea of keeping my eyes focused on the light of hope inside that dark forest of illness.
Remember the saying, “can’t see the forest through the trees?” Chronic illness can feel like you are lost in that dark dense forest, alone and cold and the hunger pangs are your only friend.
The trees will be in the way of the full view of the forest. Just as the voices of others on your health choices. There will be so many voices and confusion and then there will be obstacles and then come along taller trees and taller obstacles and the nights get darker as you meander deeper into the woods feeling lost and miserable on this illness disaster.
No matter how hard you try, it is very difficult to see the whole picture, the whole forest through all those trees.
Grab a glimpse of hope. Follow the light up to the ridge and look down at the forest. See the bigger picture with a different view this year. The problems of illness are still there but you will have a clearer view from the ridge of the forest. You will be able to see how to find the path that will take you from where you are to where you want to be.
You are still going to have to deal with the forest and the obstacles it presents but you will have a different view. The howling wolves of the forest won’t scare you as much and you will have the layout of the land more clearly in your mind.
So get on the path that looked good to you from the ridge of the forest and take it all the way to the top of the mountain. Stay focused on the path that you have determined for this year, the specific one that you deem appropriate for you, for your health beliefs and your tolerance and your victories for this year. They are there to be had, no matter how ill you are. Get them in view and go for it.
There are many mountains to climb during chronic illness. Next year will be different mountains. Pick one of those mountains for this year, focus, then go for it and enjoy that victory far above the forest.
Cycology = psychology on wheels
Rolling through chronic illness the very best we can!!
