It’s time for May’s Link Party with Sheryl at “A Chronic Voice”. Every month, Sheryl gives us 5 prompts to write about. She collects everyone’s answers for others to read. I enjoy reading what other people are doing, and thinking each month.
This month’s prompts are: Foreseeing, Panicking, Upbringing, Accessing, and Soothing.
Foreseeing
When January 2020 started I was looking forward to meeting my first grandbaby in August. My youngest son had a tumor on his kidney that needed surgery, which was causing me anxiety. Everything else was a big unknown. I never know with my health what the future really holds from day to day anyway.
No one imagined that we would be in the midst of a pandemic that appears to be sticking with us. I never thought I would fall and fracture my right upper arm at the shoulder. I never dreamed that my son and daughter-in-law would lose their baby. It’s probably for the best that I didn’t know these things were coming at me and my family like a freight train.
FYI: The surgeon was able to completely remove the kidney cancer and my son is doing well. (:
Panicking
I experienced extreme anxiety from January 22nd when I broke myself until the end of April. Sleep was difficult to get due to anxiety and shoulder pain. Then my fibromyalgia flared up. Irritability happened. I guess it was a good thing that I lived by myself. No chance of taking it out on others. LOL!
Upbringing
Interestingly, this prompt fits my situation this month. I’ve been examining my beliefs from childhood. My dad firmly believes that girls need to get married, because they need someone to take care of them. He also firmly believes that “You have to look out for yourself, because no one else will.”
These beliefs caused a great deal of confusion and grief in my life. It’s only recently that I became aware of them. I don’t blame my dad. He learned these things from his parents and grandparents. But “Gee whiz!” what a mess they caused in my adult life.
So I’m bringing myself up right now. I’ve declared that I am capable of taking care of me, and that I do not need a man to do that job. I’m also declaring that I don’t have to look out for myself all alone, because my Heavenly Father has my back.
Yet I am always with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward You will take me into glory.
Psalm 73:23-24
Accessing
There were many frustrations with the lockdown and stay at home orders. However, the most frustrating one for me was when I was not allowed to go to Physical Therapy (PT), because I got a cold during the pandemic. I cancelled my therapy for a week ,and then my outpatient PT provider decided that I had to be symptom free for 14 days before I could return.
I kept doing my exercises, but without having a therapist stretch my shoulder for me, it became stiffer and stiffer and much more painful. I ended up missing out on 6 weeks of therapy which set back my recovery.
The second most frustrating thing was not being able to see people. I had already been unable to drive since my accident in January. By the time the pandemic lockdown occurred I was going stir crazy and was very lonely. Thankfully, my friends and I have figured out how to use Zoom! This has been a real sanity saver for me.
I’ve also spent a lot of time talking to God.
Soothing
Thank God for music! Listening to music has been a sanity saver for me throughout this season. I’ve shared in a previous post, five of my favorite music videos. Music has a way to calm me that few other things do, except for getting out into nature.
When I’ve been able to, I’ve also walked in my local park. If I miss a day, I get antsy. It’s also soothing to listen to the birds chirping outside my window. Below is a photo that I snapped in my neighborhood.
My final two soothing helps, are reading the Bible, and coloring in my mandala coloring book. What have you found to soothe yourself with during this season?
Wrap Up Of May’s Link Party
Thank you, so much, Sheryl for hosting these each month! You can read the other participants posts here. Scroll to the bottom to see them.
Subscribe below for the bimonthly newsletter plus access to subscriber-only freebies. You may unsubscribe at any time, but I’d be thrilled if you stuck around.
Using Household Cleaners & Disinfectants Without Making Yourself Sick
Welcome!
Hello, my name is Kathy and I’m a disabled nurse with multiple chronic illnesses. I’m also mom to 6 grown kids, and a domestic abuse survivor. I provide helpful information & resources to help you make the most of life with chronic illness. More
Knowledge is power! Get twice monthly newsletters & subscriber-only resources in your inbox so you can live your best life.
The post January 2023 Link-Up with A Chronic Voice appeared first on UpBeat Living. January 2023 Link-Up with Sheryl at "A Chronic Voice". The writing prompts are Summarizing, Crossing, Moving, Rebuilding and Expecting. The post January 2023 Link-Up with A Chronic Voice appeared first on UpBeat Living.
The post December 2022 Thoughts With “A Chronic Voice” appeared first on UpBeat Living. December 2022 thoughts about Closing, Treating, Reminding, Rationing and Embracing with Sheryl at A Chronic Voice. Read all the responses at her Link Party. The post December 2022 Thoughts With “A Chronic Voice” appeared first on UpBeat Living.
The post Review of She Seems So Normal: A Book About Childhood Sexual Abuse appeared first on UpBeat Living. She Seems So Normal is a book about the author's healing journey from childhood sexual abuse. It offers practical tips & many resources. The post Review of She Seems So Normal: A Book About Childhood Sexual […]
The post Suicide Prevention Resources We All Need appeared first on UpBeat Living. We can reduce deaths by suicide by learning all we can about this health crisis, and doing our part to make a better world for everyone. The post Suicide Prevention Resources We All Need appeared first on UpBeat Living.
Knowledge is power! Sign up for the twice- monthly newsletter and access to subscriber-only resources in your inbox so you can live your best life.
You may opt-out of Google Analytics Data Collection here. Your link text
A note to our visitors
This website has updated its privacy policy in compliance with EU Cookie legislation. Please read this to review the updates about which cookies we use and what information we collect on our site. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our updated privacy policy.
UpBeat Living
May 2020 Link Party With “A Chronic Voice”
It’s time for May’s Link Party with Sheryl at “A Chronic Voice”. Every month, Sheryl gives us 5 prompts to write about. She collects everyone’s answers for others to read. I enjoy reading what other people are doing, and thinking each month.
This month’s prompts are: Foreseeing, Panicking, Upbringing, Accessing, and Soothing.
Foreseeing
When January 2020 started I was looking forward to meeting my first grandbaby in August. My youngest son had a tumor on his kidney that needed surgery, which was causing me anxiety. Everything else was a big unknown. I never know with my health what the future really holds from day to day anyway.
No one imagined that we would be in the midst of a pandemic that appears to be sticking with us. I never thought I would fall and fracture my right upper arm at the shoulder. I never dreamed that my son and daughter-in-law would lose their baby. It’s probably for the best that I didn’t know these things were coming at me and my family like a freight train.
FYI: The surgeon was able to completely remove the kidney cancer and my son is doing well. (:
Panicking
I experienced extreme anxiety from January 22nd when I broke myself until the end of April. Sleep was difficult to get due to anxiety and shoulder pain. Then my fibromyalgia flared up. Irritability happened. I guess it was a good thing that I lived by myself. No chance of taking it out on others. LOL!
Upbringing
Interestingly, this prompt fits my situation this month. I’ve been examining my beliefs from childhood. My dad firmly believes that girls need to get married, because they need someone to take care of them. He also firmly believes that “You have to look out for yourself, because no one else will.”
These beliefs caused a great deal of confusion and grief in my life. It’s only recently that I became aware of them. I don’t blame my dad. He learned these things from his parents and grandparents. But “Gee whiz!” what a mess they caused in my adult life.
So I’m bringing myself up right now. I’ve declared that I am capable of taking care of me, and that I do not need a man to do that job. I’m also declaring that I don’t have to look out for myself all alone, because my Heavenly Father has my back.
Accessing
There were many frustrations with the lockdown and stay at home orders. However, the most frustrating one for me was when I was not allowed to go to Physical Therapy (PT), because I got a cold during the pandemic. I cancelled my therapy for a week ,and then my outpatient PT provider decided that I had to be symptom free for 14 days before I could return.
I kept doing my exercises, but without having a therapist stretch my shoulder for me, it became stiffer and stiffer and much more painful. I ended up missing out on 6 weeks of therapy which set back my recovery.
The second most frustrating thing was not being able to see people. I had already been unable to drive since my accident in January. By the time the pandemic lockdown occurred I was going stir crazy and was very lonely. Thankfully, my friends and I have figured out how to use Zoom! This has been a real sanity saver for me.
I’ve also spent a lot of time talking to God.
Soothing
Thank God for music! Listening to music has been a sanity saver for me throughout this season. I’ve shared in a previous post, five of my favorite music videos. Music has a way to calm me that few other things do, except for getting out into nature.
When I’ve been able to, I’ve also walked in my local park. If I miss a day, I get antsy. It’s also soothing to listen to the birds chirping outside my window. Below is a photo that I snapped in my neighborhood.
My final two soothing helps, are reading the Bible, and coloring in my mandala coloring book. What have you found to soothe yourself with during this season?
Wrap Up Of May’s Link Party
Thank you, so much, Sheryl for hosting these each month! You can read the other participants posts here. Scroll to the bottom to see them.
Subscribe below for the bimonthly newsletter plus access to subscriber-only freebies. You may unsubscribe at any time, but I’d be thrilled if you stuck around.
You may read my Privacy Policy here.
Till next time, Kathy