Getting ill and becoming a spoonie has changed quite a lot of things in my life. In fact it's changed pretty much everything. It changes your perspective on life, your goals, hopes, dreams. Everything. Since becoming a spoonie, I have become grateful for things that I never really thought about before. These things have always been there but only since getting ill have I learnt to appreciate them.
So I wanted to share with you 5 things I have become grateful for since becoming a spoonie.
1.) Benches in Public - When I'm not using my wheelchair, I depend on there being a bench near by so that if I come over really poorly and need to rest for a bit, I have somewhere to sit down. I never really thought about this before I got ill but now I am aware when there aren't any. If there aren't any benches and I do feel really dizzy or ill, I have to make do with sitting on the floor (and getting off looks from strangers).
2.) Having really thick hair - my hair is really thick (and long) and this comes in handy because it means I can go longer without washing it. If I had really fine hair, I would have to wash it more often and washing my hair/showering is tiring for me so I'm grateful my hair still looks fairly decent even if I haven't washed it for a week or more. Anything that saves spoons is a plus. (Along the same lines - I am so grateful for dry shampoo too!)
3.) Having a back garden - being able to sit outside in my back garden is really great for me and I know that some spoonies don't have one so I feel lucky that I do. I love the fact that I can go into my garden and it feels like I'm going out but I don't have to get dressed or worry what I look like - I quite often go in the garden in a dressing gown-coat-boats-pyjama combo which is always a flattering look but hey, it doesn't matter because no one can see me! A change of scenery is always good and fresh air always makes me feel better.
Also I am grateful for where I live. Living somewhere fairly quite really helps when it comes to resting. Outside sounds really make a difference when you are trying to rest and I am also grateful that I live fairly near to some shops, my doctors surgery and my family so I don't have to travel too far. Not only does this save spoons but it means I can go out and do things more often than if these things were far away.
4.) Having a car - I'm not well enough to learn how to drive but I'm really glad both my parents have a car. Public transport would be extremely difficult for me and would mean that I wouldn't be able to go out nearly as much as I do. I feel like using public transport would also add a lot more stress and anxiety to my trips out. This also means that I can come home if I feel ill and don't have to wait for the next bus or train. I can go on drives and do what I want to make myself more comfortable, whether that's having it quiet, no music and no radio or wearing what I want aka an odd combination of things/pyjamas or taking a hot water bottle with me. I've always been grateful that we have a car but now even more so.
5.) The Internet/social media - I've really become dependant on the Internet in general, especailly Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube and blogs. I have found the majority of information on M.E online and reading other sufferers blogs and getting to know them has been really helpful. Going online is a great way to feel like you are interacting with others when you're not actually well enough to go out and about. The spoonie community is honestly amazing and everyone so supportive of each other. I have made so many amazing friends through Twitter and Instagram, people that I have gotten to know really well and talk to them every day. I don't know what I would of done without my spoonie friends. I also like to watch YouTube videos and read blogs too. This is something I can do from bed and I find it useful to be able to distract myself or cheer myself up. YouTube videos are generally shorter than television programmes too so I find that they are good when I'm not feeling so great. I mainly watch beauty videos but I like vlogs too, especially ones where people are going on holiday/travelling so that I get to see a bit of the world without leaving my bed! Pinterest is one of my favourite places too, I like the fact that it's just pictures so you don't need to be feeling that great and don't need to be up to reading - which is good when brain fog strikes! I like thinking about things like what I would have if I ever got married, pinning pictures of wedding dresses, home interiors, positive quotes, places I'd like to travel to, things I want to bake or try. Or even just pretty things I like the look of.
Those are just some of the things I'm grateful for since getting ill - I'd be here all day if I mentioned everything but I might do another one of these soon.
What things are you grateful for since getting ill?
