Archive for the ‘Humour & Inspiration’ Category

To add a little humor into the mix…… here are a few slightly irritating comments to hear when you have Lyme:

• “You look good, you don’t look sick!”- Oh my, if I had a quarter every time I heard this comment!  Is there supposed to be a certain way you need to look to be sick?  Thank God I don’t look as awful on the outside as I feel on the inside some days!  Do we need to look like a character from a horror movie to prove we are actually sick?  There are many people in this world who are walking around with chronic illnesses everyday and I know for certain that we wouldn’t be able to pick them all out on physical appearance alone and why should we?
• “You can still do things that other people who aren’t sick can do!” – Yes, we may be able to get together with friends for a laugh or go to a movie, etc. but our energy is very limited and we have to conserve the little amount of health we have just to be able to plan to leave the house and be one with society.  We may look fine and seem to act normal like other people but trust me, our bodies are very different and every little task we do can be a struggle some days.  The pain, fatigue, exhaustion and mental fog is like a constant gray cloud that doesn’t disappear.
• “You are able to work so you can’t be that hard done by!” – It is true that some people suffering with Lyme have no choice but to work in order to keep a roof over their heads and have the funds in order to survive.  It is a sad but true fact that Lyme can be a costly disease to treat and has been coined as a “rich man’s disease”.  The heartbreaking truth is that some Lymies are not fortunate enough to qualify for long term disability.  Or if they are single parents with no financial support from family or friends…… they don’t have many options of supporting themselves and their children other than the income from a full time job.  It is not that those inflicted with Lyme don’t want to work, they desperately want to fit in like everyone else and be able to hold down a full time job.  What seems like such an easy accomplishment to a healthy individual can feel like a road trip straight through hell when someone has Lyme.

“THE SPOON THEORY”

A truly original and interesting new way of understanding and relating to someone who has a chronic illness is portrayed beautifully in “The Spoon Theory”.

http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory-written-by-christine-miserandino/

Happy, Inspiring Activities

• Watch a movie that makes you feel good.  Whether is be a comedy, romantic comedy, drama, documentary and so on.  It is amazing how a good movie can make you feel!  If you are feeling up to it why not invite a friend and go to your local theatre as a good excuse to get out of the house if you are feeling cooped up.
• Spend time with family and friends.  Don’t completely become a hermit because of your illness!  Of course you will have days where there is no way you can leave the house or even get out of bed for that fact.  Just do what your body allows and don’t forget how revitalizing and refreshing it can be to have a good conversation with a loved one.  I can feel my soul strengthen and true happiness consume me when I share a good laugh with a friend and it doesn’t matter what you do because conversation is sometimes all you need to brighten your day and outlook on life.
• For those of you who have pets, they can bring so much joy and unconditional love to your life!  They are content just to be with you and always love you no matter what.  If you are feeling lonely and want a buddy I totally suggest looking into getting a pet, whether it be a rescue pet from a shelter or from a reputable breeder.  There is no way to put into words the way your heart feels when your furry friend snuggles up to you.
• Read a great book and escape reality and your health problems for a little while.  I find when I am reading a book I thoroughly enjoy I feel completely captivated by the story and feel like I am right there with the characters.  Sometimes it is hard for us “Lymies” to concentrate and it may take a little longer to finish a book or you may have to reread sections over to fully absorb the concept but that is ok.  Take all the time you need and work on your own time.
• Find a new hobby or try out new activities that make you happy.  A hobby could be anything you enjoy such as reading, mild exercise, scrapbooking or even a cooking class, etc.  Never try to let this disease overshadow your life and find an activity you relish that you are capable of doing without putting too much burden on your body.
• Music……if you are having an off day or you are feeling bummed out, listening to your favourite CD or songs on your IPOD are guaranteed to lift your spirits.  No matter what kind of mood you are in there are definitely a great assortment of songs always waiting for you.  I have recently discovered how amazing I feel when I go for a slow walk around the neighborhood with my dog and my IPOD.  Now that spring is here it feels so awesome to get out and get the adrenaline and circulation going and who better to accompany me than my four legged buddy.
• Oprah is consistently a source of inspiration.  I am so sad that her show has now ended although I fully intend to subscribe to her network to get my daily dose of inspiration.  Despite her daily show being over I know we will still hear and learn much from Oprah.  She has and will continue to explore topics that are great for the human spirit and soul.   There is no greater inspiration than Oprah!  You can still learn to live your best life by tuning in to Oprah’s re-runs over the summer, picking up a copy of O magazine or checking out her amazing new network OWN.  Here is her website at:  http://www.oprah.com/index.html

   

Turn your wounds into wisdom.  ~Oprah Winfrey

• Who doesn’t love Dr. Oz?  I really respect his true desire to educate the public everyday on his TV show.  He is charming, incredibly intelligent and he stays up to date on the newest ground breaking health issues.  I have learned so much from his show and enjoy watching it as often as I can (without being a couch potato of course, ha ha!).  I truly admire him for stepping out of his comfort zone time and time again knowing he may stir the pot with the conventional medical community.  He has briefly talked about Lyme Disease and has been straight up about its complications when left untreated long term.  It is so refreshing to see such a respected and wonderful Medical Doctor such as the Oz man be open and honest about the seriousness of Lyme.  I really look forward to seeing more about Lyme on his show!  Check out Dr. Oz’s website at:  http://www.doctoroz.com/
• Give back to your community!  Many times dealing with chronic illness makes you entirely grateful for what you have in your life and you begin to embrace a simpler lifestyle.  You start to see the world in a whole new light and want to help out the less fortunate.  It truly doesn’t matter how little or how much you can do!  This could range from anything to making a donation to your favourite charity, donating your used clothes to an organization, volunteering at a fundraiser or just anything that makes you feel good.  I truly believe that the good karma we put out will come back to bless us when we need it.  Let’s be kind to each other!