Happiness

“Let’s Go Fly A Kite”….Dreaming Dreams Despite Disability

~ Sam ~ 6 Comments

If you love the original Mary Poppins movie, you will be very familiar with one of the songs sung by Dick Van Dyke, “Let’s Go Fly A Kite”

I’ve been singing it over the past few days as the lyrics and melody are so uplifting:

With tuppence for paper and strings,
You can have your own set of wings
With your feet on the ground
You’re a bird in a flight
With your fist holding tight
To the string of your kite

Oh oh oh
Let’s go fly a kite
Up to the highest height
Let’s go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let’s go fly a kite

When you send it flyin’ up there
All at once you’re lighter than air
You can dance on the breeze
Over ‘ouses and trees
With your fist ‘olding tight
To the string of your kite

Songwriters: Richard Sherman / Robert Sherman   Let’s Go Fly a Kite lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company

Wouldn’t It Be Lovely

Sometimes we need to dream dreams despite our disabilities.

Sometimes we need to close our eyes and imagine the wind in our hair as we run through a park, flying a kite.

Imagine skipping. Imagine dancing. Imagine walking in the rain.

As I imagine these lovely things a smile fills my face. I’m not sad. I’m simply daring to dream. It’s like watching a happy movie, I just happen to be the leading lady!

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So Let’s Go Fly That Kite….Figuratively Speaking

A new year is fast approaching. I have no idea what lies ahead. I don’t know what my body will throw at me from hour to hour. Trying to map out plans for a new year would be setting me up for failure and disappointment.

So, this year I’m going to “fly a kite”. I’m going to dream a little and set some goals that work with my disability. Goals that can happen or not happen…..it really won’t matter.

Dream A Little Dream With Me

So here goes….I’m dreaming of

  • A White Christmas
  • Rainy Days and Rainbows
  • A Book Deal
  • An Escape to The Country (Love that show)
  • Tea With the Queen…or Prince Harry and Meghan would be even better!
  • An audience with Barak Obama

And a little closer to reality;

  • Quality time with family and friends
  • Reaching out to support more people with chronic illness, through my online forum and blog
  • A holiday, close to home, with my husband
  • Embracing new beginnings as my husband and I explore ways to further accommodate my health needs.

Dare To Dream

I so hope as you think ahead to the New Year, you take some time to dare to dream. Have fun with some pipe dreams and then take a moment to think of a few key things you would like on your “reality” list.

I know living with chronic disease is limiting and the thought of looking ahead can seem dismal. I get you may feel like there’s no point.

The point is, if you allow yourself to “fly a kite” for a moment, it can help relax your mind. With a relaxed mind you can have some fun dreaming dreams despite disability.

Who knows, you might even find you are inspired and determined to set a couple of realistic, high level goals….Goals that really could happen.

So let’s go fly a kite!

Love

Sam xx

 

If you’re looking for genuine support, care, understanding & friendship, you are so welcome to join my closed Facebook support forum, Medical Musings with Friends . It’s a safe place to connect with others living with chronic & complex diseases, who truly understand the daily challenges. A warm welcome awaits.

I’m a Contributor at “The Mighty”. You can check out my published articles at My Author Page

I also write @ Blogs by Christian Women

I’m a member of  the Chronic Illness Bloggers Network  the  Grace Girls Facebook Group and the Salt and Light Linkup Group

 

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Don’t Forget The Beautiful Season of Advent

~ Sam ~ 2 Comments

In the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas I love the Advent season. This is the season the Christian church celebrates in the lead up to Christmas. It’s the start of the Church year and Advent Sunday marks the four Sunday’s before Christmas Day.

It’s a season of reflection and expectation. Advent is latin for “Coming.”

Hope

On each of the four Sundays of Advent, a candle on the advent wreath is lit. The first candle symbolises Hope.

Christmas celebrates the coming of Jesus as a new born baby in the most amazing circumstances. The Christmas story is full of hope. Hope for a brighter future, hope for times of peace, joy and love.

I can’t think of a better focus for the start of Advent. We all need the hope that Jesus offers.

“A feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen.” Oxford Dictionary 

While we might be enjoying a feeling of expectation about Christmas coming, good food, presents and catching up with family and friends, the candle of hope represents so much more.

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Peace

On the second Sunday of Advent Christians around the world continue to prepare for the joy ahead of celebrating the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. The second candle represents peace. The words below come from a beautiful carol, ” I heard the bells on Christmas Day”

It has a lovely melody and stirring words. It’s another of my Christmas Day solo pieces in years gone by.  Just reading the words conjures up wonderful memories of my Dad playing the organ for me, while I rehearsed at home in preparation for the Carol Service. Special times!

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Joy

On the 3rd Sunday in Advent, the candle lit on the advent wreath represents Joy.

When we think of chronic disease and pain it can be hard to imagine feeling a sense of joy. The Christmas message isn’t talking about a frivolous passing joy that comes from enjoying a moment. It’s talking about a deep joy that comes from knowing that God cares for us and despite how bad our circumstances are now, there is hope for a brighter future.

“The angels sang a message of JOY! “…the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”     (Luke 2:7-9)

Love

On the fourth Sunday of Advent we light the candle representing love.

What an amazing gift of love that God should send His Son to give us hope, peace, joy and love. What amazing love that this baby born on Christmas Day, was sent to save us from our sins and give us the hope of eternal life.

What amazing examples Jesus showed us, while he walked on earth, of how to love others. Loving our neighbours as ourselves. Showing grace and mercy to those we don’t understand, those in need, those who need love.

This is the essence and beauty of the Christmas message. This is what makes the Advent season so special. It’s four weeks of expectation, anticipation and it helps us understand why Christmas Day is so worth celebrating.

Happy Advent…

with love xx

 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”    (John 3:16)

If you’re looking for genuine support, care, understanding & friendship, you are so welcome to join my closed Facebook support forum, Medical Musings with Friends . It’s a safe place to connect with others living with chronic & complex diseases, who truly understand the daily challenges. A warm welcome awaits.

I’m a Contributor at “The Mighty”. You can check out my published articles at My Author Page

I also write @ Blogs by Christian Women

I’m a member of  the Chronic Illness Bloggers Network  the  Grace Girls Facebook Group and the Salt and Light Linkup Group

 

Please click here to read our Privacy Policy

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A Cheerful Approach To A Chronic Situation

~ Sam ~ 16 Comments

 

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news health to the bones. Proverbs 15:30

It’s a gorgeous morning. The sun is shining, the birds are singing.

I can hear children playing in the local schoolyard and a cool gentle breeze is blowing through my bedroom window.

I’m resting on my bed in the hope that my broken bones will soon cease screaming at me. Pain meds will take the edge off eventually and I’ll be able to stand long enough to sort out my stoma and get dressed for the day.

Sometimes You Just Have To Laugh

I’m not going anywhere today. I am pretty much housebound every day. Despite that I still like to dress as if I have something special to do.

Smart casual is my style…or it is now. It used to be corporate suits with high-heeled shoes. I miss that but I quite like my new wardrobe.

Everything has elasticated waists for comfort and ease of wear, plus that works better sitting over my stoma. I like slightly fitted, tunic style tops over 3/4 length bengaline pants. Both have to easily pull on and off and be made of slightly stretchy material to allow me to move freely.

The pants hug my legs a little, as this provides my broken bones extra support when I stand. A bit like bandages. So there is a slight method to my madness of getting dressed like this each day.

I’ve learned the hard way when it’s come to reinventing my wardrobe. My husband and I have been known to cut me out of tops that haven’t stretched, as I couldn’t pull my arms in the right direction to get out of them.

Sad….but oh so funny. On those occasions, through tears of laughter, I’ve managed to give my husband clear cutting directions while I’ve been stuck in the top. A great trust exercise!! Thankfully no one has been harmed during such a procedure. His handiwork has been so good, after each “surgical removal”, I’ve been able to turn the top into a jacket. Bonus!

You really do just have to sit back and laugh sometimes at such a ludicrous  situation.

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Letting A Cheerful Heart Emerge

Today and everyday I’m enjoying what I can do, rather than thinking about the things I can’t do.

It’s not easy.

A concerted effort over time was needed to change my mindset but it was well worth the effort. It’s always worth the effort.

That moment when the focus shifts to the possible, rather than looking at the impossible, is a life changing moment. It’s the moment a cheerful heart has room to emerge.

Don’t get me wrong, dreaming of the impossible, holding onto hopes and dreams, believing they can happen, is also important at times.

But when the very basics of life are verging on the impossible every day, a dose of reality and being grateful for what you can do, is so important.

A Chronic Situation

I’ve had a really tough few months with some bad news on the health front.

Among other things I’ve recently been diagnosed with Gastroparesis. I’ve also recently been reminded by my medical team, my rare bone disease is progressing and there is no treatment and no cure.

I’ve been reminded no further surgery can even be considered as I am such a high risk for permanent complications or worse.

I’ve been reminded by my Orthopaedic Specialist, my bone graft in 2016 just dissolved in a month as if it never happened. We are dealing with a rare complex disease that has a mind of it’s own. It’s not following any rules of medical logic.

My left femur is still well and truly broken nearly 4 years on from the initial break. It’s now classified as a permanent break. With the progression of my disease, my body is affected from head to toe with various ongoing fractures and muscular atrophy.

I can’t sleep or sit comfortably. Getting in and out of chairs or the car or any movement at all really, causes excruciating pain resulting in debilitating fatigue.

Pain medication only takes the edge off at best. I could increase the medication but it would completely reduce my ability to write, think and support others through my online forum. I would end up both physically and mentally disabled and that’s just not worth it.

It’s a chronic situation and one that requires me to make difficult choices to ensure I am living the best life possible.

The Best Medicine

I’ve needed some encouragement over the past few weeks. It’s can be a bit hard to come by when feeling so overwhelmed with pain and disease.

When the punches keep coming an encouraging word means so much, especially when you are really limited in what you can do.

Encouragement can come from friends and family, even strangers, or from something you’ve read.

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news health to the bones. Proverbs 15:30

This little proverb was on my calendar and it reminded me how much a cheerful heart really is the best medicine.

It encouraged me and confirmed I am on the right track when I focus on helping others, encouraging others.

I need to keep surrounding myself with things that encourage me and make me happy, so that I’m able to bring ongoing cheer to others.

It’s good medicine to do that. According to the Proverb, it even brings good health to the bones to give a cheerful look!!

So why are my bones so bad you may ask, especially those of you who know me well and know I give cheerful looks constantly?

Well, I don’t think it’s supposed to be literal. It means to give a cheerful look or to be cheerful, gives you a sense of well-being. When battling a chronic disease or dealing with any difficult chapter in your life, that sense of well being is exactly what is needed to help sustain you.

That being said, I did smile and felt very encouraged that the Proverb says “good news brings health to the bones”. A sense of hope flooded my soul and that’s a good thing. We all need hope and as a Christian, I believe and know that my seemingly hopeless situation is well and truly in God’s hands.

If God wants to send me “good news that will bring health to my bones”, then I believe that is absolutely possible.

In fact I do receive the gift of “good health” every day. Each encouraging interaction I have with others or each time I provide encouragement, I have a greater sense of well-being.

Without the good news of a cure or treatment, I am resolved to remain working on having a cheerful heart. It does make a difference to my overall well-being.

Giving cheerful looks and encouraging words to others, truly is good medicine.

Take care

Sam x

If you’re looking for genuine support, care, understanding & friendship, a place to share your seasonal changes & challenges,  you are so welcome to join my closed Facebook support forum, Medical Musings with Friends . It’s a safe place to connect with others living with chronic & complex diseases, who truly understand the daily challenges. A warm welcome awaits.

I’m also a Contributor at “The Mighty”. You can check out my published articles at My Author Page

I also write @ Blogs by Christian Women

I’m a member of  the Chronic Illness Bloggers Network and the  Grace Girls Facebook Group

Please click here to read our Privacy Policy

This post was shared at the Salt and Light Linkup Group

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WEGO Health Award 2018 Nominee