The best way to become acquainted with a subject is to write a book about it. (Benjamin Disraeli)
My communicating now is definitely best when I have had the time to write my thoughts down first. Trying to get the words out verbally in exactly the way I mean for them to be said and heard, is quite difficult, as my ability to think and process information has been partially disabled, and is becoming worse. They are things you can’t see, thing that are invisible to most people, and partly the reasons why I called my personal story My Unseen Disappearing World. Writing about what is happening to me has become paramount to my ability to understand it, and to manage what is happening positively. But almost no-one sees the effort behind my closed doors. Becoming acquainted with your own illness might not be important to you, but for me I need to understand what I am dealing with. It is always challenging to cope with people who say, but you don’t look sick. I guess it should be simple to take these words as praise that you look well, but often those of us who have chronic illness take them to mean that others simply don’t believe we are ill. Chronic illness leads some of us to be more fragile and more vulnerable and the loneliness of illness can make you feel cut off from your friends. I recently read an article called The Spoon Theory written by Christine Miserandino, a wonderful story on the website But you don’t look sick, that offers clarity about how it is living with chronic illness. This story is part of my blog today, allowing me to be a little lazy on my own blog, and to save some of my spoons for later on.
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you are busy enough most days and with the finale of your show tonight, you can enjoy a rest.
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I fell this morning whilst running (not looking where I was going, it was dark, tripped on a paver). My face is covered with bruises and gravel rash, my knee is skun and I have another bruise on my chest. I have to go out to lunch tomorrow, and I’m dreading the questions “OMG what have you done to your face?” “Oooh that looks painful” etc. Hopefully it will all quieten down, and no-one will notice. We can talk about other stuff that is more important to me.
However, if I choose to write a blog on my painful face today and the perils of jogging in the dark, and subsequently the bruises do quieten and disappear tonight (faces heal quickly you know), my companions might well say – “Hey, Sal, I thought you hurt your face yesterday? It looks fine!”
They may even disbelieve me! They may not want to continue the conversation about jogging in the dark and the horrors of a disfigured face.
Some people want their trials to be public, some don’t – there are pros and cons of both.
I am ever the “devil’s advocate”!
with love
xx
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I do hope your face settles down quickly, and mostly, is not too painful. Thankfully, faces do heal quickly. Hearts, however do not. I have often been the “devil’s advocate” too, and try to accept the pros and cons of most things, and that people will always make their own choices about what they do or don’t share, what they do or don’t believe in, and so on. The journey for each and every one of us is different, and the way we respond to it is of our choosing. Some will think our choices are wise, some won’t. That is life. Another girlfriend had an accident jogging in the dark a few years ago, and ended up needing a shoulder replacement. Mostly she was admonished and told she was stupid for running in the dark. Again, just someone’s opinion. Take care my friend. xx
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Indeed. Our choices are our own. There will always be someone who agrees, and someone who doesn’t .
Personally, I think I am probably unwise to run in the dark. But hey, I’m still going to do it!
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Love it… I used to when I could still run too!! Go girl xx
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Morning darling- great analogy, and one easily understood. And you have earned a blogging rest today…… Xxx
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