“Hope is being able to see that there is light, despite all of the darkness.” Desmond Tutu
It has been raining gently off and on through the night and this morning turning our hard-packed land into glorious mud. The brown, brittle grass is already turning green and the dogs are having a glorious time splashing through the puddles in the farmyard.
Physically, it’s been a painful week. Some days were spent in bed with eyes covered and ears plugged because even light and sound hurt, but today is a better day, a wondrous day when our drought-ravaged land gets luscious rain and our weary hearts receive a boost of courage to keep on hoping.
I’m on month 7 of Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS), and my world is small and quiet as I wake up each day and try to do what the doctor ordered: rest, drink lots of fluids, and above all, don’t lose heart.
Don’t lose heart. That’s the hardest part because I love my life, so much, and I miss it terribly. But each day, even though most of my choices have been taken away by this illness, I still get to choose what to do with the time and energy I have.
I try to make good choices.
I choose to cry when I need to cry.
I choose to be gentle with myself and let go of shame and guilt and unrealistic expectations.
I choose to give and receive love.
And, when I have the energy, I choose to do things that bring me joy.
I have a list of things that I love to do, all requiring varying levels of energy so that even when I’m at my very worst, I still have something happy to look forward to. It never ceases to amaze me that just having one happy thing a day makes all the difference in the world.
Sometimes I have hot chocolate and sit on the veranda with Bear to watch the new baby goats and sheep jump and leap around, others I get warm under a blanket and do wood-burning while listening to Harry Potter audiobooks, and other times I’ll go outside with my camera for a few minutes and take pictures of beautiful things like my gardens covered in raindrops.
They’re little things, so little, but they keep me going and give me courage.
One thing I really love is writing here, sharing pictures and stories and thoughts. So, I hope to do more of that in the months to come.
What little things make your hard days easier to bear? xo
Day by day, little by little always with hope and joy is a beautiful way to live.
Love your positive outlook and beautiful wordsmith talents.
When I have a bad day, I will call my children or grandchildren. The sound of their woice is medicine for me. I feel good and rich, and give me happy thoughts. Or sitting outside with a good cup of coffee, looking at my garden. ❤️❤️
Being in nature, lighting candles, listening to music, reading poetry, writing, watching a favorite movie, going somewhere peaceful alone to think my own thoughts and feel my own feelings, sitting in my favorite cozy chair, talking to or enjoying music with my husband.
Hi again Krista
I ,too, have suffered chronic fatigue many years ago. It is a soul draining experience. Western medicine offered no help to me. I sort recovery in many areas. St Marys Thistle extract assisted on a monthly basis but was limited help, with the fatigue returning again in a month. My final healing medicine was a Chinese medicinal concoction of bark, leaves, and what looked like dried silk worms. This brew was cooked and drank in half a glass for 2 weeks. then another batch for a 2nd 2 week effort. This worked well for me with no return of symptoms for 15 years. So I will offer this advise. Chinese medicine is well worth the effort – find a clinician that utilises these herbs for treatments. The shop I visited was amazing. Jars of different ingredients everywhere. After a 2 year battle I was willing to do anything and I’m glad I did. Our health is the most valuable thing we have.
A speedy recovery to you – Never give up…..keep pushing on x
I love the little things… raindrops on the plant life… here I also have my camera on hand to catch the little things… my days are mostly grandchildren and goats and all the fun in between
Krista, I hope you are feeling a little better. I also hope you have been getting some of the rain that is finally falling on this dry land of ours. Best wishes to you. x