Life changes for many people in a variety of ways when they
have invisible disorders. Most of us have to deal at times with some
degree of depression and/or anxiety. I
think this makes it even more important to still find joy, purpose, ways to feel
productive. Being able to do basic daily
living tasks is very good, but I don't think it's enough. Ultimately, I believe there needs to be
more. Although what may feel like a huge
goal may be different now, I DON'T mean that you have to set a whole bunch of huge
goals for yourself. The same can be said
for what feels amazing - even if what qualifies to you as amazing may have
changed, your days don't need to be filled with amazing things. Achieving something really big is wonderful,
but I mean that taking pleasure in small joys is important. I mean that even a few minutes of something
good everyday makes a difference.
I really do believe that everyone can find
something. I joined VEDA's Ambassador
Board in order to help spread awareness, but there was a more selfish reason as
well. I was able to get connected to
some terrific people - among them David Morrill, who does an outstanding job as
the Chair of this Board. He sends out
Monthly updates, and I think does a fair amount of behind the scenes work, all
of which I know is very meaningful for him.
My FB friend Kim, who is also on the Ambassadors Board, shares posts
from her blog site, writing about hiking, and other little nuggets from her
life. My FB friend Fran does some
writing which she posts in various groups (she doesn't have a blog), and puts
together wonderful, creative miniature gardens.
She posts pictures of them on FB.
I know from messaging her that she really enjoys this creative
outlet. My FB friend Elizabeth is an
Admin on Dizzy Daze, and posts all sorts of fun stuff in this group.
Sometimes you have to get creative about how you do
something, or who you do it with, but finding some things that fill you up
inside is really important. I've seen
people post about gardening, and sharing special times with their family or
friends. I don't take walks with my dog by
myself anymore unless I have to, and I'm up for the challenge, but I've gotten
used to that. Instead of it being alone
time for me (which in my former lifestyle was more important), I have company
with me now. And my dog seems to know to
behave when I DO go alone. I'm able to
watch movies on an older, small screen TV that we have. My family knows that I'll need a break in the
middle, and what spot I always sit in on our living room couch, because it's
easier for me visually. If the movie is
longer than two hours, we watch it over the course of two nights.
I've talked a fair amount about music. I've started posting music videos regularly
on my FB timeline. I make a point of watching
all the way through whatever video I post.
There's SO much available online, no matter what your musical taste ....
you can watch a clip of your favorite
artist or group, or an entire concert.
One of the benefits I've noticed about listening to music is that I get
songs or melodies running through my head.
For me this is a good thing, because it's a good distraction. I over-think things sometimes, or get into
negative thinking about my situation. I
know that thinking positively is literally good for my health, and music helps
me to get back to that.
I don't play my flute for lengthy periods anymore, nor do
I read a lot of sheet music. Those are
both things I'm working on improving, but in the meantime I love playing for a
few minutes, a couple of times a day. I
honestly just love the sound of flute music.
And I've accepted that I play very simple melodies... simple can still
be lovely. I've recorded myself a few
times on an old cassette recorder I have, just to be able to hear over the
course of time, the progress I make. I
also still keep my Progress Log, which is really just a document on my
computer. I put the date, and a sentence
or two - nothing lengthy - about something I did. Sometimes I don't remember to note something,
but I think even thinking about something, noticing something for a moment, is
good.
A simple thing like wearing cheerful colors, especially
on dreary days, can make you feel a bit better.
I recently saw a video clip of the author Elizabeth Gilbert saying that
just being outside, and really noticing feeling the sun on her face qualified
for her as a good moment. Sharing a
laugh with someone is always a good thing.
Sometimes "sharing" for me means a friends' post I see online,
and sometimes it means enjoying something cute or funny that one of our pets
does. Or it could mean something one of
my daughters says. Some people keep
gratitude journals, or positive moment journals - I don't do that myself, but
if it's helpful for you, then it's a good thing. I do try really hard to stay in the moment
when something good is going on.
When life presents extra challenging situations, I've learned
that you really have to make a conscious effort not to stay stuck, dwelling on the
difficult moments. I don't ignore it,
but then I make myself push past it. I
make myself focus on what I can find that's good, that lifts me up, instead of
bringing me down. And again, I really do
mean "moment." Just stopping
and noticing something positive is worthwhile.
If I find myself thinking about the future, and worrying, I try to pull
myself back to the present. Everything
is really so fleeting, and I truly don't want what ifs about the future to
cloud a good moment in the present.
