When I had a mothermy hair would cascadein curls of auburn perfectiona red velvet bow to accentuate the wave And I’d wear my bestnewly sewn frockwith lace at the neckand fishnet stockingsand patent Mary Janes And the girls giggling with delightwould skip hand-in-handto the school promand the boys shyly perchedagainst the back wall would wonderhow […]
Isolated and incapacitatedI am prohibited from partakingof the influx of information incessantly presented consequently cut offfrom prescribed expectationsdictating costuming and culture external expressions of acceptanceare sorely missing, suggestingan overall lack of self-worth. Interestingly inverse to such conclusionsis the sudden contentment that arisesfrom escaping the mayhem Internal relief overrides dictated performancesurrendering willingly to intrinsic motivationand renewed […]
One Woman's Quest II 
Well said, VJ! 💖
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Thanks Eugi!
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Most welcome, VJ.
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The mental aspect is the one I imagine to be the most challenging. (K)
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Yes, it is. Takes a long time to fight those voices in your head.
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Thank you for writing this, VJ, for those of us who haven’t had to contend with a chronic illness.
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😊💕
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VJ, you’ve done a beautiful job of explaining how chronic illness feels so that I think I understand it without having gone through it myself. It reminds me of something I heard cognitive scientist Maya Shankar say about change, ““We don’t like change because it almost definitionally involves a loss of identity and that’s very destabilizing. I think as humans we often attach ourselves to specific identities as we move through the world because it gives us a sense of security. Psychologists refer to this phenomenon as identity foreclosure. We are foreclosing on an identity, we commit to an identity and fail to maintain an exploratory mindset.”
If I remember from the podcast where I heard that, once we give up that identity, that exploratory mindset does kick in and help as the end of your statement suggests. I hope that is true for your experience that a renewed sense of purpose is found.
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I haven’t heard this explanation but it sure makes sense. I am 8 years in, so the renewed sense of purpose is well-established, but every so often I am reminded of the enormous losses that come with this disease.
I believe in acknowledging what I am feeling so I can move on.
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That seems so healthy and wise to acknowledge your feelings so you can move on, VJ!
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Amen! 🙂 ❤
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😘
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VJ – well spoken. Do you have any advice for those of us whose dear friends have to live with this daily physical challenge? How can I be helpful?
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The best gift you can give someone with chronic illness, is a moment of being ‘normal’. If they can’t go out for a tea, drop by with a favourite beverage. Offer to sit and watch a movie, preferably funny. I have a friend that just sends me thoughts of the day, and it makes me smile that she thinks of me. I think everyone has different needs, but it’s always nice to have a mini-vacation with a cherished friend
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Thanks, VJ. That is helpful advice.
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Welcome
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Diificult to cope with it somedays!
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Yes it is. Especially when we have setbacks. Sigh
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❤ Hang in there.
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Thank you!
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Indeed it is a complex challenge
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Thanks Sadje. Too many of us know this.
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Yes we do. And we also know how to stand up to it
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