Many of us have been in a winter season in life. It has been dark and cold for a long time. We have been desperately ill and alone. We have snuggled up in our cozy sweats and hunkered down where it feels a bit safer. We have learned to chill, to relax and find a glimmer of hope and an ounce of joy. Today is National Women’s Day. For some of us, it is time to tear back the layers from the winter, come out from hiding, and be exactly who we are, real people on a wellness journey.
Continue reading Women Everywhere, Reveal Yourself Wherever You AreTag: lyme psychology
Dancing In The Rain
Do you feel like you are in a desert, with no rain and all alone in chronic illness? What would it take to celebrate? Rain!!! Okay, so this picture is just a mirage but I really did find some serious dancing kangaroos. As in real kangaroos and real rain. They were clearly celebrating (look below for the real picture). In light of the recent fires in Australia, there is even more significance to the photo. It won awards! You will be able to feel the rain as you view it.
Continue reading Dancing In The RainIt’s Cold Outside Baby, Persevering Illness In Winter Season
Winter is just a season, it comes and a few months later it goes. Chronic illness can be like a winter season in our lives, not a permanent condition. So… when will chronic illness GO? Most of you are done with it! Over it! Ready to get back to life!!! Persevering through illness is really not much different than the winter season we see outside. Put on your winter coat and walk this out with me…
Continue reading It’s Cold Outside Baby, Persevering Illness In Winter SeasonLove Note to Self In Moments of Victory
When you are in the joy of victory, take a moment to write yourself a love note. When we have moments of victory during chronic illness, we can use that for days to come when it is not so glorious. Chronic illness is not one big victory, it tons of smaller ones. The victories are hard to remember when we are in the really bad days (or weeks, even months or years) of illness. Love notes to ourselves is a beautiful way to remember, to feel the hope of past victories to help us keep walking through some of the darker days.
Continue reading Love Note to Self In Moments of VictoryNowhere is One of My Favorite Places During Chronically Illness
If nowhere is good enough for Winnie-The-Pooh, it is good enough for the chronically ill. Have you ever let your mind wander and rest in never-never-land? Interesting things can happen while in nowhere land. Christopher Robin and Pooh can help us find great comfort while we are on our unique wellness path.
Continue reading Nowhere is One of My Favorite Places During Chronically IllnessNew Year, New View
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…
Continue reading New Year, New ViewNot A Better You, Better View of Victory
Have you beaten yourself up enough for being chronically ill? Are you ready to view illness in a different way? Are you ready to see the victories? You don’t need a better you, there is nothing wrong with you, exactly like you are. A better view of victory sure seems like a more productive way to move through chronic illness.
Continue reading Not A Better You, Better View of VictoryCozy Up – Hygge
You made it through Christmas Day!!! That is not an easy feat when one is chronically ill. Sure, the holiday might not have turned out as you expected but just maybe it turned out better. Maybe you found a comfy place inside yourself that said, “All is good” regardless of whatever. Let’s celebrate the victory, no matter how it turned out. It is a victory simply because it is the day after and you are still here, still making your way through the wellness journey. Let’s cozy up and enjoy it.
Continue reading Cozy Up – HyggeWhat Courage, Faith & Skills Have You Learned from Chronic Illness?
Moving forward requires looking at illness from a different perspective. Dr. Randy Michaux said, “During chronic illness, what courage, faith, and skills have you learned.” I love LOVE LOVE this!!!! I know, it is easier to focus on the negative but when we can see past the yuck-and-muck, there are true treasures to be found. Yes, even in the worse of illness and disease circumstances. Give it a shot…
Continue reading What Courage, Faith & Skills Have You Learned from Chronic Illness?You Are Not Alone In Your Health Journey
Easy to say but not so easy to feel when nose deep in the yuck-and-muck of chronic illness. Ongoing health issues are not only frustrating, they can be isolating. They can land us sicker than we ever imagined and more alone than we can tolerate. So, what happens if we find ourselves alone of such a health journey…
Continue reading You Are Not Alone In Your Health Journey