adapting

My husband and I realized at some point that so many human rule, routine, schedule, tradition and timing expectations are arbitrary. We realized there is a lot we can adjust, rearrange and change because it’s what our family needs, and that doing that is totally okay. ~~ For example, this year, we ended up doing Thanksgiving late…very late. My husband had hurt his knee and owns a small retail business, which makes Black Friday important and a lot of work. With my chronic illness reality, 3 kids, his injury, and all that he needed to do for work, we decided Thanksgiving was just too much to do that week. So we did it 2 WEEKS later, when his knee had healed and life was less chaotic and overwhelming. The kids were disappointed at first, but they adjusted and had patience. I was proud of them. And we ended up having a very nice, more fun and less stressful December Thanksgiving.

“There's more than one answer to these questions
Pointing me in a crooked line
And the less I seek my source for some definitive…
Closer I am to fine”
from Closer to Fine by Indigo Girls

#Holidays #ChronicIllness #Belated #adapting #BeWeirdIfItMakesYourLivesBetter

this post is inspired by @haley-quinn

A few years ago, my perception of a normal day would consist of getting up, going to school, going to sports practices, and spending time with my friends and family.
Now, my definition of normal has changed, and that’s okay. A normal day for me still consists of all of those things, because I am lucky enough to still be able to do most of the things that I was able to do before being diagnosed with a chronic illness, but now my days are so much more. Now my days consist of taking medication, going to doctors appointments, going to get bloodwork done, naps (lots of naps), practicing yoga and mindfulness as a way to cope with chaos, going to therapy, paying attention to the way my body feels, convincing myself to slow down when necessary, trying to build my support system and learning to rely on them when necessary.
My days are so much more complicated than they used to be, but that’s okay. I learned quickly that it felt like I was living in chaos if I wasn’t able to maintain at least some sense of normalcy in my day to day life. So I take the things that I love to do, like making art, being with my pets, spending time with my friends, playing sports, etc. and I enjoy them to the absolute fullest extent every time I get to experience them. I fill myself with so much joy when doing the things I love, and this makes doing the hard things a bit more bearable. When my days are filled with doing the hard things I remind myself how much I really do enjoy my life, and this moment will pass. Life is filled with doing less than desirable things so I figure that it’s best to enjoy the good things a little extra.
It’s okay to change your definition of what is normal if you have to, because your normal can always adapt. Just know that more than anything, you should fill your life with as many wonderful things as you can, even if you are no longer able to do the things you may have once been able to do. Find the things you love that you can do, and soak up every minute of doing them. Hold so much joy from doing those things that it just propels you through all of the bad days.
Lastly, do take time to acknowledge your bad days, because they are important too, but learn to do the things you love despite what misfortune may have been caste upon you. 🌟🦋💓

#ChronicIllness #coping #AutoimmuneDisease #autoimmune #normal #Joy #Waiting #adapting