I want to share with you a bit about what this last six months has given [back to] me.
Last weekend, I had choir practice on Thursday evening--a typical Thursday evening activity. I generally get into bed a little later that evening, by the time I get home and carry through the necessities of my bedtime routine. Work as usual on Friday, and that evening, I was at a friend's place, celebrating another friend's birthday – requiring the typical social energy, and also managing the input to all sensory systems. It was a lovely evening, and great to catch up with friends. On Saturday, I typically take my mornings slow and gentle,* but was up, dressed and ready to sing with my choir at a celebration of life service that morning. It was a beautiful and emotional service. I was back at church the next day for the regular Sunday service, in which we typically sing an anthem before the sermon. Afterwards, I went for a walk with a friend to feed the birds along my favourite nature trail. All this around the regular activities of cooking, cleaning, changing over Airbnb beds, commuting to/from work, running errands, etc.
On Sunday evening, I was relaxing at home, and a slow smile crept up my face as I thought about everything I had done over those four days.
In the past, all of those activities would have flattened me by Sunday evening. To try and prevent the crash, I probably would have ducked out of some activities early, or skipped some altogether; I may have chosen to block my Airbnb for part of the weekend. And I would have spent all the in-between time trying to be as still and quiet as possible. I would have had to sacrifice joy, connection, compassion, income, hobbies, and community just to be a functional human being.
I don't have to do that anymore.
I am able to engage in the activities I want without having to clear my schedule for days on either side to pre-rest and post-rest.
Some additional impacts of the gains I've made over the last six months:
- I have been reading more books
- I can use lightly and naturally scented soaps, lotions, and shampoos
- I have returned to standing for cooking/baking, showering, washing dishes, doing make-up and hair, and during Sunday morning choir rehearsal
- My breathing and lung capacity has expanded when singing
- I have more focus and creativity at work
- I have been doing more photography work (not just taking photos, but also post-processing, as well as managing my FB & IG pages).
- I can take day trips or overnight trips, including all the driving, and step back into my regular routine when I get home.
I have just started to have success with food reintroductions, and that will continue to be the main focus of my brain re-training through 2024.
In short, I am thriving.
*This has been true always, not just since my health changed.
