Twenties, thirties, and what's to come.

"I'm still in my prime..."  I like to think that our state of mind is what determines the state of our health.  While this may somewhat be true, there are steps that we need to take to help make that statement true.  The ability to fool our neighbors or coworkers into thinking that we are just "obese" or "lazy" is our ultimate goal. To mask the symptoms so well that we continually hear "you don't look sick" when the bad days come. Sometimes obesity isn't due to enjoying the delicious food choices that we are limited to. Most of the time, obesity is just one of the many side effects we try to manage. Instead of thinking of that our "prime" is dead and gone, maybe it is best to to stay that we reach our prime in stages. Yes, I know my twenties are gone, but the fact that I can still fool people into thinking that I AM twenty something has to count right?! Reminding ourselves that the daily struggles are real, but the breath in our bodies means that we are still able to reach our next goal. Goals, primes, weight, all things that may cause some pressure if they aren't met. But that's the great thing about setting your own goals, you have the ability to take it just one day at a time! 

The Hippo and the paper

Accountability. Since when did that term become a foreign concept?  In this day in age, we teach our children that it's ok to pass the buck and blame someone else for our laziness. Laziness, that can cost someone their health. Laziness that can cost someone their livihood. As a fellow spoonie, our fate lies in the hands of such people. And although the cost for stress is high flares, sometimes it means we have to make others understand that an "I'm sorry" isn't good enough. Like the old tale of the crumpled paper that was used and abused, no amount of ironing or finessing could ever make the paper like new. Instead it still looks and feels like a hippo sat on it.  But we as spoonies have to "keep calm or suffer the consequences". It's funny, we suffer consequences of not only our actions but of others as well. I wish there were more people like us who worked in the medical field. That way they understand how important it is to get medication on time.  If there were more people like us in the workforce we wouldn't have to explain why their incompetence has led to 3 days of flares because your medicine was late. But such is life, an auto-immune disease doesn't allow for one to work for very long. Perhaps, that is why we are so misunderstood.  

Wise words and a couple of fish

In this day in age we look to social media for entertainment, wisdom, and comfort. We often find that life is full of an over abundance of information. Anything you don't know can be "googled".  In fact, I've learned a lot about my disease from the web. I constantly am trying to keep myself educated about the latest studies and medications that are surfacing. But one thing I have done more and more this week has been to trust in God's promises. "Do not worry!" That's big for me. Today at work God in His own special way reminded me of that once more. My coworker told me this tale: "we've been going through a rough patch ever since my husband was laid off. So we took out a box of fish patties and on the box it says it had two patties in it. I told him to feed himself and our grandson. I was more concerned about them eating than me. So my husband opens the pack and there were THREE PATTIES!  That was only the work of the Lord! He fed the five thousand the same way and he took care of me and my family!" Needless to say I cried. I tell this tale to remind myself that God has this in His hands. I am not to worry about my pain, health, or family. He will provide and sustain. 

Matthew 14:13-21

Blessed be.