Getting back “in the swing of life”……

As someone who has lived with a chronic illness for 24 years I can honestly say I’ve had numerous times that I’ve had to “get back into the swing of life” due to being sick, stuck at home, and/or hospitalized. Here I am getting ready to do just that again in about 2 weeks as I’m finally discharged after my kidney transplant from my 3 months of isolation from crowds which included work, church, shopping, friends and large groups of family. I’m excited and nervous if only because there is so much I want to do.

My life was put on hold in a lot of respects when I went out on medical leave in April of 2016. I wasn’t working anymore, I started dialysis and I had to put being a foster parent on hold because taking care of myself was a priority before I could take care of anyone else. Unfortunately, the agency I worked at as a Licensed Professional Counselor closed its doors at the end of June 2017 but on the flip side I’m lucky because another job I worked at a few years ago is looking for therapists part time. I’ll take what I can get at this moment and there is always the chance it can become full time and I’ll also be looking for other opportunities. I will be able to attend church, go out with friends and visit with family who I’ve been unable to see recently and so much more. I can begin accepting foster placements and keeping my faith alive for my goal of adoption.

So there is the excitement I was talking about and the nervous feeling comes in because I want to believe this is it! I’ve come so far and have had more than my share of pitfalls along the way and I’m ready to live again. I am definitely a positive person and I have been able to find the funny, the good and the learning aspects through all my experiences but sometimes in the quiet moments those fears creep in. The what ifs. I know there are no guarantees in life. I’m more than versed on that aspect and yet I believe in the good, the positive, the happiness that is offered if we’re strong enough to reach for it. So I’m going to focus on what I can do, what I do have and what I know I want.

So my mantra now is…GO FOR IT ALL THE WAY. What are your hopes, goals and fears? How has living with a chronic illness changed you and what if anything have you learned about yourself? I’ve learned I’m a lot stronger than I thought I could be and that I have a really warped sense of humor:-) Maybe I’ll share some of that in the next blog. I told you I could find the funny in my experiences although some people aren’t sure how to take it. I figure I’d rather laugh at myself even the hardest situations because I don’t like the alternative.

Happy Saturday all!