Thank you to the lovely Emma, who writes a fantastic blog at Not Just Tired, which raises awareness of ME/CFS and how to live well despite it, for tagging me to take part in #behindtheillness. This lovely exercise aims to share fun facts about yourself and let others know things about you beyond chronic illness.
Here we go!
Four places I’ve lived:
Minden, Germany
Chepstow, South Wales
Fallingbostel, Germany
Pontypridd, South Wales
Four places I’ve worked:
Sales Assistant, Somerfield Stores
Volunteer Resource Centre Worker for Mind
Volunteer Support Worker for those with Special Educational Needs
School Peer Counsellor during Sixth Form
Four favourite hobbies:
Writing my blog
Reading of any description!
Enjoying a relaxing spa day when I can
Going to the theatre
A great memory of going to see Legally Blonde. Such a fun musical and left with a great big smile on my face!
Four things I like to watch:
Films and particularly enjoy a lovely rom-com or something uplifting
Crime dramas – so much choice, I couldn’t possibly choose just one!
Loving binge-watching Arrow at the moment
Soaps – great to watch and unwind during the nights
Four things I love to read:
Anything by Jodi Picoult
Chick-lit for a bit of light reading
Crime novels
Other people’s blogs
Four places I’ve been:
Olden, Norway
Stavanger, Norway
Florida, USA
Cornwall on many a family holiday!
The beauty of Olden
Four things I love to eat:
Lasagna
Roast Dinner (Chicken Roast Dinner in particular)
Chocolate
Chicken Korma – ultimate comfort food!
Four favourite things to drink:
Water
Hot Chocolate
Peppermint Tea
Apple Juice
Nothing more comforting than a mug of delicious Hot Chocolate!
Phew! It was so hard to narrow it down to just four bloggers as there are so many wonderful bloggers that I would love to have also tagged (and more who have already participated!). But for those who have not yet been nominated, feel free to share your answers as I would love to know you all more.
One of my favourite chronic illness bloggers, Sheryl from ‘A Chronic Voice’ has started a link up party! These parties are a monthly get together for any bloggers who live with or have experience with a chronic illness. These will provide opportunities to ‘meet,’ share thoughts, information and learn from one another.
To gain more information about these parties and information on how to participate then you can visit Sheryl’s original post here.
The prompts for this month are:
Missing
Appreciating
Striving
Releasing
Eating
Missing: My late dog, Honey
I’m not going to lie, but I have been struggling these past couples of months and been spending more time alone in the house. And it’s during these times that I have been really missing the company of our late dog, Honey. Although she may have been pretty useless if something happened to me such as a fall (which have also been increasing) however the mere presence of having her around was comforting. Of course, I also miss her copious amounts of hugs and kisses which never failed to make a bad day better.
Appreciating: Books
In my last post, I wrote about my love of books and reading. As the pain and relentless trembling in the legs have worsened recently, I appreciate the wonderful world of books for allowing me to escape from the monotony of chronic pain and the other symptoms that have taken permanent residence in my everyday life. These books, the many that I have read so far this year has taken to many different places that my body is physically unable to go. It has proven to be a great distraction for me on the bad days, which unfortunately have been many. And for that, I have been so very grateful.
Striving: Striving for Progress
As I have already mentioned, things have been challenging in regards to my health which is really frustrating especially as I take steps to try and improve it – I go to a local gym in the attempts to strengthen my muscles (which hasn’t happened). Or at the least ensure that the weakness does not get any worse. I also ensure that I spend time every day to complete the vestibular rehabilitation exercises that I was given at the hospital to help with the dizziness and vertigo as well as the physiotherapy exercises to improve the functioning in my legs. So far, they have been unsuccessful, but still, I persevere in the hopes of improving my situation. Like all of us, I am never going to achieve perfection, but I hope one day soon I manage to attain progress and improvement.
Releasing: Positive Thoughts
As a writer myself, I love words, and I love finding new and uplifting quotes to decorate my bedroom to raise my spirits and inspire me on my bad days, and those days I am stuck in bed. I also own several pieces of jewellery that have a positive quote or mantra that I can wear and remind myself during difficult times. I release these positive thoughts to elevate my mood. I have even found some cards that have positive and inspiring quotes on them that I have even used to send to others also living with chronic illness and disabilities (such as the fun and brilliant #spooniepost) to help remind them of everything that is positive during their own struggles.
Eating: Homemade Pizza
In our attempts to eat healthier, my Mum and I have been spending some time experimenting with some of the recipes from the beautiful cookbook ‘Cook Happy, Cook Healthy‘ by Fearne Cotton. Our favourite meal from this book has been the Healthy Homemade Pizza which uses spelt flour instead of regular white flour due to its nutritious qualities. I love this, as it’s surprisingly easy to make and it doesn’t leave your stomach feeling heavy and stodgy afterward, which I often get after indulging in a takeaway pizza. It has also been enjoyable to make (despite all the mess!), and I have felt incredibly accomplished while enjoying the fruits of our labour!
In a recent post, I wrote about my passion for television shows. And the distraction they provide from the persistent chronic pain ravaging throughout my legs. In the post, I also shared my favourite box sets to watch when incapacitated by chronic pain. Or the many other symptoms that accompany life with a neurological condition. There is magic in watching television shows, but magic can also be found in books.
Books and Reading; My First and Lasting Passion
Yes, television and films are one of my primary passions. However, it is not my only passion. My first love and one that has followed me throughout my life since childhood is reading. Books are something that I have always collected, amassing goodness knows how many over the years. Books can be found all over my home, especially in my bedroom! Many I end up donating to charity shops or passing them along to those I know would love it as much as I did. But still, I somehow amass so many books!
The problem of being a massive bookworm!
I hate becoming lost, especially in unfamiliar places. But when perusing the shelves of bookshops often time seems to slip away from me, not noticing if lost or lose sight of my companion.
As a young child as much as my Mum tried to engage me in other activities such as colouring or puzzles, I quickly became bored, once again turning to the safety and magic that books provided. Many of my photographs are of me clutching a book, losing myself in the words and pictures on the page. As we have now established my condition whether genetic or due to another organic cause, was from birth, I wonder if I retreated into books as a way of dealing with symptoms such as pain that I could not yet verbalise.
‘Reading Gives Us Somewhere to Go When We Have to Stay Where We Are’
Still, I am continuing to use books to distract myself from the effects of chronic illness. Recently I came across a quote, ‘Reading gives us somewhere to go when we have to stay where we are.’ A quote that is incredibly apt for someone living with a chronic illness.
The Magic of Books When In Pain and Sick
There are many times in which I am incapacitated by one or more of the many symptoms that I live with day in and day out. Weak legs that force me to lie on my bed are within the same four walls that I am compelled to spend most of my time. Days like these, I cannot go anywhere or do anything, so I find solace in the written word.
Escapism. A place where I can forget my predicament and everything that chronic illness has given and taken away from me. Escapism from the vast number of symptoms that are plaguing me. But books can also take you places.
Books are like a unique magic carpet ride, transporting you to faraway places; locations, you’ve always wanted to go and experience but which current circumstances prevent you from doing so. For instance, Prague has been on my ‘bucket list’ of places that I would love to visit someday. However, as I’m unable to fly due or cope with large airports, illness has prevented me from ticking it off my list.
Books as a Passport From The Realities of Life, and Creating a Wanderlust for Travel and Adventure
Last year, I read the beautiful ‘A Year and a Day’ from author Isabelle Broom in which a large chunk of the story takes place in this very city. Isabelle writes, and the exquisite level of detail with which she describes Prague and its unique landmarks made me feel that I had been there and experienced the city for myself. OK, so it may not be like experiencing travelling firsthand, but when circumstances prevent you from being able to move from where you are, books are the next best thing. In fact, all of Broom’s books give you major wanderlust as each novel has taken place in different, exotic locations, and each place beautifully and meticulously described, making you want to grab your passport and book flights immediately.
And it’s not only places that exist now that books allow you to visit; historical fiction allows you to visit and experience places that existed many years ago (or at least what it was like from the author’s perspective). But very often, and for me anyway I want to be uplifted. A story to remind me of the beauty and wonder of the world; to comfort, and reassure myself that there is still hope and much to be grateful for despite chronic pain.
Reading can give you real wanderlust!
Books Are An Escape From a World of Sickness
In books, we can be whoever we want to be. We don’t have to sick, confined to bed and in constant pain. We can be the hero, the warrior, the woman who eventually finds love and her happily ever after. Getting lost in these worlds, we no longer feel the pain slowly dragging us down into a dark abyss. We no longer have to fight against our bodies. These books on my bedside table allow me to experience a snapshot of normality; one in which I am independent and confident. No longer a burden on others.
Books are a magical portal allowing us to escape from our lives. Taking us away from this world of sickness – time spent in bed, mobility aids, hospital appointments, and medications. Books can allow us to find out who we wish we could be. For many, reading is merely a hobby, a way of filling time, or for light entertainment. But for those of us confined to bed, incapacitated by pain or from numerous other symptoms from chronic illness, there are magic and power in those printed words.
Welcome to the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge brought together by WEGO Health – a social network for all health activists. Again, I am participating in the annual Writer’s Month Challenge in which I will be writing about my health activism and health condition based upon prompts given.
Today’s prompt reads as follows:
Hobbies…We at WEGO Health love hobbies. Tell us, what are YOUR hobbies? Are you a rock collector? Scrapbooking? Photography? Dancer? Share your talents. (Pictures encouraged!)
Battling fatigue, dizziness, trembling and weakness in the legs can make it extremely difficult to take part in hobbies. That it not to say I do not have any hobbies. One of my loves is reading; ever since I was a child I was a bookworm and loved reading fiction books that will transport me to different places and times. Or books just to escape from the reality of pain, dizziness and depression. The love of reading, fortunately has not left me and I am a proud owner of a large number of books. Those who know me, will already know that my favourite author is Jodi Picoult. I have at least two shelves in my bedroom dedicated just to her books. I love her writing style; the fact that each chapter is narrated by a different character enabling the reader to consider both sides of an argument and allowing the reader to determine their own opinions on the subject matter at hand. Each book is thought-provoking, deep and thoroughly researched. In my opinion, my love of reading, especially my recent devouring of novels are a result of the weakness and trembling in my legs. Due to the mobility problems that are a result of these particular symptoms mean that walking can be difficult, sometimes even I am unable to leave my bed because of them, and so it is in these moments that my love of books are a real blessing, as it a hobby that I can take part in bed or wherever I am stuck with my uncooperative legs.
Another hobby of mine is collecting butterflies. As a lot of my followers and readers of the blog will know that I am a big lover of butterflies. In my opinion, butterflies are beautiful; the bright and colourful colours of their wings, but also they are a sign of hope. The hope that something beautiful can come from the end of an old life. For someone with a chronic illness like myself, it really symbolises hope that despite being diagnosed with a long-term health condition it is not the end and something positive can still be found. This is beautifully summed up by the proverb “Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly”. I have a piece of artwork which encompasses this very proverb within the piece. It’s a lovely piece of artwork and I have near it my bed as a positive reminder that good things will still happen despite having a chronic illness.
In addition to the piece of artwork, butterflies can be found everywhere in my bedroom! A butterfly clip on my curtains, a photo frame adorned with them and even on my wallpaper! I have just recently bought some butterfly LED lights to hang around my headboard. The lights are pretty and colourful and make a bad day a little better. As a symbol of hope and change, in my opinion butterflies are a perfect addition to be included in my own personal and private sanctuary. A sanctuary in which I can recuperate on my bad days, and just get away from everything. It’s a room which I spend a lot of time, so to make it as lovely and positive as possible is in my opinion very important.
Another hobby of mine, which I have been unable to do for a while because of trembling in my hands is card making. I love making intricate decopauge cards. It not only is it fun but doing them takes my mind off my pain and the dizziness that greatly affects my daily life. Again it is something that I have found to do despite my condition and one which I am still able to do even when my legs are too weak that I cannot stand or walk. I am still able to drag to a table and chair and make cards despite the severe weakness and trembling. I like making them for friends and family for special occasions such as birthdays but I have also been asked to make them for others too. It is a lovely hobby to create something both beautiful and special. Here are some examples of the cards that I have made:
