and I can't sleep...
I've never been much of a sleeper,which turns out to be a good thing nowthat I have to get up every 2 hours. But last night, I couldn't even get to sleep in the intervening times.
STRESS, it will do that to you.
So then, in my head came Rosemary Clooney singing, and I tried, I really tried to find blessings to count.
Turns out they all have to do with friends.
When you have a chronic medical condition, especially a chronic pain medical condition, you have a finite amount of energy. You spend most of that energy dealing with the pain, and the rest of it dealing with everyday necessities of life. So, something as simple as a common cold, or as difficult as the shingles, can wreak havoc with your body, because there simply are no reserves of energy to deal with it.So things like writing a blog tend to not happen, even though you have the best of intentions. Then, the next thing you know you are feeling pretty damn sorry for yourself, and more things in your life get left by the wayside. It is all too easy to start thinking that no one else has things as bad as you-which you know is a crock-but it feels like it some days. Then you start withdrawing into yourself, because honestly who wants to be around someone as miserable as you.
Dang, we tell ourselves some stupid stuff!!! (maybe it's just me that does that)
Truth is we need people, and there are more than likely people in our lives that are missing us.People in our lives that think we are pretty cool.
Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.~~Jane Howard~~
Now,my tribe is far flung and exists mostly through my computer.But, that's OK. Cyber friends are some of the best friends I have ever had. I have met many people via online communities. I am nurtured, supported, encouraged on a daily basis online.
You know it is so easy to become cynical these days. Turn on the TV, check your newsfeed on Facebook, read a message board. Everywhere you look people seemed to have become mean, hateful, lacking the simple human qualities of compassion and kindness. It honestly doesn't matter what your political, or religious beliefs are you can find examples of people who just seem to have forgotten how to behave towards other people. If you are in a difficult situation yourself, it starts to feel rather personal. It starts to feel as if you just have no right to exist if you are down on your luck.
It seems all to easy, no matter where your belief lies on the spectrum to demonize those who are different than you.Personally, i have never understood bigotry and hate, and it seems to be growing stronger. It seems like it is all too easy to think that the problems are all the fault of the 'others'. But when the 'other' is someone we are face to face with we are able to see that we are all fighting some battle, and we aren't all that different. Folks, young, old, male, female who hold a door for me, or waited to through while the lady with the walker makes her way slowly ahead of them having no way of knowing whether I am a liberal or conservative, a Christian or a Muslim or a pagan, or any thing in between. All they see is a middle aged (hush,IknowI'm old,but middle-aged is what I claim) woman with mobility issues, and they are happy to offer assistance or a bit of encouragement.
It is so easy to fall into cynical thinking, I have thought many times recently that there are those who would gladly let me die by the side of the road because I am no longer a productive member of society. And there may be a couple of those out there, but for the most part this country is full of good people, people who will offer a helping hand no matter who you are or what you look like.For the most part this country is full of friends we have yet to meet. And even those who say the most hateful hurtful things will usually think that their friends or family are not who they are railing against.
It is possible to have friends that you are diametrically opposed to what they support and still remain friends. I know this because it is true in my life. I have friends from all political and religious parts of the spectrum and we love each other. I think it maybe because while we can think the person is wrong or misguided we can respect that they have the right to feel and believe what they do. We understand that people can honestly look at things and understand them differently. It isn't easy,but nothing isthesedays.
Find the blessings,and thank you to those who bless me. Especially when I'm worried and I can't sleep.
Peaceand Blessings,
EB
p.s. I dislike doing this,but there is a paypal buttonoverthere, just in case. I told a riend once who was embarassed about asking forhelp thatif we don't make our needs known howdoesanyone ever know we have needs. The William and I are struggling, so, just as embarassed, I am pointingoutthe button. Blessings.
I've never been much of a sleeper,which turns out to be a good thing nowthat I have to get up every 2 hours. But last night, I couldn't even get to sleep in the intervening times.
STRESS, it will do that to you.
So then, in my head came Rosemary Clooney singing, and I tried, I really tried to find blessings to count.
Turns out they all have to do with friends.
When you have a chronic medical condition, especially a chronic pain medical condition, you have a finite amount of energy. You spend most of that energy dealing with the pain, and the rest of it dealing with everyday necessities of life. So, something as simple as a common cold, or as difficult as the shingles, can wreak havoc with your body, because there simply are no reserves of energy to deal with it.So things like writing a blog tend to not happen, even though you have the best of intentions. Then, the next thing you know you are feeling pretty damn sorry for yourself, and more things in your life get left by the wayside. It is all too easy to start thinking that no one else has things as bad as you-which you know is a crock-but it feels like it some days. Then you start withdrawing into yourself, because honestly who wants to be around someone as miserable as you.
Dang, we tell ourselves some stupid stuff!!! (maybe it's just me that does that)
Truth is we need people, and there are more than likely people in our lives that are missing us.People in our lives that think we are pretty cool.
Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.~~Jane Howard~~
Now,my tribe is far flung and exists mostly through my computer.But, that's OK. Cyber friends are some of the best friends I have ever had. I have met many people via online communities. I am nurtured, supported, encouraged on a daily basis online.
You know it is so easy to become cynical these days. Turn on the TV, check your newsfeed on Facebook, read a message board. Everywhere you look people seemed to have become mean, hateful, lacking the simple human qualities of compassion and kindness. It honestly doesn't matter what your political, or religious beliefs are you can find examples of people who just seem to have forgotten how to behave towards other people. If you are in a difficult situation yourself, it starts to feel rather personal. It starts to feel as if you just have no right to exist if you are down on your luck.
It seems all to easy, no matter where your belief lies on the spectrum to demonize those who are different than you.Personally, i have never understood bigotry and hate, and it seems to be growing stronger. It seems like it is all too easy to think that the problems are all the fault of the 'others'. But when the 'other' is someone we are face to face with we are able to see that we are all fighting some battle, and we aren't all that different. Folks, young, old, male, female who hold a door for me, or waited to through while the lady with the walker makes her way slowly ahead of them having no way of knowing whether I am a liberal or conservative, a Christian or a Muslim or a pagan, or any thing in between. All they see is a middle aged (hush,IknowI'm old,but middle-aged is what I claim) woman with mobility issues, and they are happy to offer assistance or a bit of encouragement.
It is so easy to fall into cynical thinking, I have thought many times recently that there are those who would gladly let me die by the side of the road because I am no longer a productive member of society. And there may be a couple of those out there, but for the most part this country is full of good people, people who will offer a helping hand no matter who you are or what you look like.For the most part this country is full of friends we have yet to meet. And even those who say the most hateful hurtful things will usually think that their friends or family are not who they are railing against.
It is possible to have friends that you are diametrically opposed to what they support and still remain friends. I know this because it is true in my life. I have friends from all political and religious parts of the spectrum and we love each other. I think it maybe because while we can think the person is wrong or misguided we can respect that they have the right to feel and believe what they do. We understand that people can honestly look at things and understand them differently. It isn't easy,but nothing isthesedays.
Find the blessings,and thank you to those who bless me. Especially when I'm worried and I can't sleep.
Peaceand Blessings,
EB
p.s. I dislike doing this,but there is a paypal buttonoverthere, just in case. I told a riend once who was embarassed about asking forhelp thatif we don't make our needs known howdoesanyone ever know we have needs. The William and I are struggling, so, just as embarassed, I am pointingoutthe button. Blessings.
