Hi there Friend,
Is it too late to say "Happy New Year"?
My two weeks off work went by so fast and they were exactly what I needed.
I finally managed to catch up in person with my sister in law and her family who I haven't seen for about 3 years.
I did lots of projects around the house because I actually had the energy, motivation and desire to do it, all coinciding at the same time and you know how rare that is with chronic illness.
I played 'Baldurs Gate 3' on my computer and immersed myself in an online world, with lots of calls in between to my eldest son who has already played it through twice, to commiserate about my party constantly getting killed off and venting my frustration at my lack of progress.
I also did lots of resting, reading and reflecting on the big change in my life now that I am finally living alone again after 35 years of solo parenting.
Since the second week of January I have been gently easing back into work, catching up with my wonderful clients again and thinking about goals I want to achieve this year.
The problem with setting goals though is that with chronic illness, health set backs, new diagnoses and unreliable energy, I can have the best intentions in the world and still not be able to do them.
Is this something you feel as well Friend?
While I am a very reliable and responsible person, chronic illness isn't.
It so often takes away my energy and ability to consistently do things.
It wraps up my mind with brain fog and saps my motivation, which makes it so hard to not only plan out big goals and projects, but be actually able to see them through.
While it's tough enough to deal with missing out on simpler things like having to cancel a meet up with friends, I find it harder and more disappointing to cancel my bigger goals and dreams because there is still so much I long to do.
It hurts to miss out on so much because of chronic illness and how much it has changed my life and taken from me.
How I adapt to this is still allowing and encouraging myself to dream, to have goals, ideas and visions of what I would like to achieve, even though that feels risky.
Even though I know I can't promise anyone, even myself that I will be able to see it through.
I acknowledge that there are so many factors that are outside of myself with the illnesses that I can't control.
I also remind myself that my illness and my dynamic disability is not my fault.
I am always doing the best that I can and Friend, so are you.
It's easy to feel left out as everyone else is busily planning their version of 'new year, new you' and mapping out goals that they want to achieve for 2024.
Dream your dreams even it they may be smaller or you can't fully commit to them.
Celebrate the small things you can do (which are just as important as the big ones) because they really do matter and add value to your life.
I will share more soon about my dreams and goals for this year, but for now, if you are going into 2024 feeling what's the point in planning and feeling like life is passing you by, I understand and I am sending you hugs.
Remember, if you want to experience what it's like working with me and find out how my online coaching and therapy can help you live as well as you can with chronic illness, then book your FREE Discovery Session with me now.
I would love to meet you and help you overcome the complex emotional issues that come with chronic illness.
wam wishes
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