I honestly never thought I would ever face the day I didn't have a bath or take a shower every day. Or put it on my to do list. Or have to factor it in, weighing up pros and cons of using too many spoons or not.
I never thought I would ever flake out on my bed after taking a bath or shower, too exhausted to dry myself, instead allowing the ducted air from the heater vent to dry me off.
Never did I envision myself too sore to put on a bra, or too stiff and sore to put my leg through my knickers or leggings, or having to call for assistance to put on my socks and shoes.
I could never have imagined my days spent in a dressing gown or house robe, with my slippers my only comfort in a world of pain. Forgoing clothes too hard to don and that make me itch mercilessly.
I can never imagine being thought of with compassion by outsiders who do not suffer from chronic illness or pain. Who judge without knowing facts. And their judgement is cruelly wrapped up in a word. Lazy.
Now I can never dream of doing these things that I took for granted in healthier years. But I can dream of things I can still do in the privacy of my home. Accept what is. Create my own new normal. Reach out to others like me. And pray.
© Glenys Robyn Hicks
"So teach [us] to number our days, that we may apply [our] hearts unto wisdom" Psalm 90:12
We all have to adjust to new normals as we age. Nobody has yet found a cure for ageing, so we do as much as we can do in one day and try not to think of what we could do in the past.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! We do! but with chronic illness compounding the need to find our new normal, that finding is all the more difficult. Thanks for sharing a cuppa with me today, Stevie. Blessings, Glenys
DeleteThis was a shocker for me too. Ive always started my day with a shower-wakes me up and I feel fresh. However, not so much anymore. I have to lie back down after a morning shower. Now sometimes every other day and often in the evenings which makes for major bedhead in the morning!
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that something as soothing as a shower can seem like a mountain to climb when illness rears its ugly head. One has to plan it on a day to day basis. It all depends on how one is feeling on the day. You can never plan lots of things in advance can you? Blessings, to you Katie.
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