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January 2018 Prompts: Reflecting, Aiming, Expanding, Focussing & Refreshing

*Click here to submit your own entry, and to read about what others are up to as well!

Reflecting

on my refreshing Aussie holiday! I spent two weeks visiting the western region, before joining my partner’s family for Christmas. It was a ball of a time, watching all the kids rip open their presents. Their energy and joy was pure, infectious, and also very exhausting 😉 They were definitely the highlight of the trip, and the main reason I wanted to go. Perth and Margaret River were relaxed with lovely beaches, and we even got to hang out with some adorable quokkas! I will do another separate blog post about this, with tips on road tripping and wine touring as a spoonie, so keep an eye out for that! 😉

A cute quokka on Rottnest Island, WA. | www.achronicvoice.com
A cute quokka on Rottnest Island
A gorgeous day at Yallingup Beach, WA. | www.achronicvoice.com
A gorgeous day at Yallingup Beach

Aiming

for more ‘normality’. Yes I know, there’s no such thing as ‘normal’ – I even wrote a whole essay about that! What I mean in that regard, is my hope for more consistency in my life this year. As we know, that’s not so easy with the unpredictability of chronic illness, but all we can do is aim and try! For starters, I’d like to seek out and take up more work again. And with everything I’ve learned from reading and blogging, I’d like to step into that with more awareness of my limits and self-worth. Beyond earning an income, I want to seek out balances in other areas of my life too; a tug against chronic illness so that life stays tight – hopefully without snapping of course 😉

Expanding

the blog! I have plans underway for a small online shop, which will include e-books, art, apparel and maybe a blogging course as well. *shameless plug* Do support me if you can! 😀 I would like to focus on health, wellness and chronic illness blogs, in hopes that ‘a more chronic voices’ will be heard, amidst the din of social media. As they say, every voice counts. These are just ideas in my head that have yet to be fleshed out, and I’m looking forward to turning them into reality, bit by bit as 2018 unfolds.

Focussing

on ‘self-discipline’ in the new year. We’ve all read articles on the importance and benefits of self-care and self-compassion. While I still think they’re important, at times having more discipline can also be beneficial for our overall wellbeing. For example, I could heat up a simple bowl of bone broth for dinner even if I’m unwell, as opposed to ordering Deliveroo. And I definitely need to work on my sleep hygiene, which will naturally increase the possibility of a good day ahead. This is an excellent article that explains why true self-care can be hard work, too.

Refreshing

my mind through books. I always have plans to read, but allow myself to get distracted. My recent trip was a wonderful reminder that it’s possible to simply sit, read and soak up the present moment. Having less access to the internet always helps 😉 One of the best ways to improve my writing and stimulate my mind is to read a wider variety of books. I have come to realise that there’s not really a better or worse genre; they all contribute to stretching our imagination and thus, our minds. Doing so encourages flexibility, empathy, humility, and intelligence in its various manifestations.

Thank you for reading, and I hope to read your responses for January’s prompts too! Click here to submit your own entry, and to read about what others are up to as well!

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Spoonie Prompts for January 2018: reflecting, aiming, expanding, focussing and refreshing. Join me in sharing about your life with chronic illness, too! Click to read or pin to save for later. | www.achronicvoice.com | #chronicillness #spoonielife #achronicvoice #januaryprompts #linkupparty

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19 comments

  • OMGoodness that quokka pic!!! It is one of the cutest things I have ever seen. Glad you were able to have such an enjoyable trip. Also, wishing you all the best in your upcoming 2018 which sounds like you have a lot of plans for. Like you, one of my goals is to grow by reading more kinds of books. If you come across any good ones, let me know. I’ll do the same!

    • Hehe…it was certainly very cute!! Plans get dashed all the time especially with chronic illness, but let’s try hey 🙂 And yes! I actually have a post idea for books coming up soon. I will let you know when it’s out 🙂 Take care!

  • I look forward to taking part in the link up again this month, was a bit late submitting my entry last month. Your holiday sounds like much fun! Those little critters are adorable. I grew up in South Africa so also had summertime Christmas at the coast. Very different here in Europe, though!

    Your goals for the new year sound so exciting, I have similar plans which I hope to put into practice this year… I’m a mix of excitement and fear at the moment. Must be brave!

    Wishing you all the best!

  • Your vacation sounds fabulous Sheryl, and I just love the little quokka.? It sounds like you have a busy, productive year ahead of you. All the best to you – I can’t wait to see your expanded blog!

    • It certainly was. Most importantly, it truly refreshed and motivated me 🙂 Yes the quokkas were so tame (not sure that’s a good thing!) that we could even pet them! Yes I am going to expand it, but I also need to be careful not to overdo as – you know how it goes 😉 Wishing you a wonderful year ahead too my friend! xx

  • Some very worthy goals for 2018!

    I’ve always thought it would be strange to have Christmas in the summer down in Oz, but I have to admit it is sounding good right now – we’ve had temps well below zero for weeks now!

    Self-discipline is not my problem – just the opposite in fact! I tend to push myself past my limits, thinking I “must” get things done – I need to work on listening to my body and taking better care of myself.

    Good luck with your goals for your blog this year – I also hope to write an e-book!

    Sue

    Living with ME/CFS

    • I still find it strange to have a ‘summer’ Christmas, even though I live in Singapore, which is summer year round 😉 I grew up in Hong Kong and loved the seasons, even though there wasn’t any snow. It just adds much more ambience to events!

      I wish you all the best for your ebook and 2018, too! x

  • Your Aussie holiday sounds and looks wonderful! Aiming for more consistency and self-care in the new year are worthy goals. I’m interested to see how your blog evolves over the new year, Sheryl.

    • Thanks for your constant support, Kathy! It’s all I can do – aim 😉 Doesn’t matter if I reach them or not, but I just want to at least try. Take care and all the best for your new changes in 2018 too x

  • Great responses Sheryl! Your trip to Oz sounds fab! I loved my time there in my backpacking days! You have some great goals for 2018 and I wish you all the very best! xx

    • Thank you Emma! You’ll have to share with me about your backpacking days – good old glorious and young days that seem like ages ago 😉 Wishing you all the best in 2018 too…I’ll be around! 😉 xx

  • I was reflecting on the unpredictability of chronic illness… but because of unpredictable symptoms arising recently that I need to adapt to. Not a good beginning to the year for me so far. Such is life. I am also refreshing my mind through books, on days I can read that is… lately that is a bit of an issue for me. But I got some great books for Christmas on my list I Want to read.

    • Hi Nikki,

      I know what you mean…I’ve had bad beginnings to new years too, as those of us with chronic illness are prone to unfortunately 🙁 I truly hope it improves for you, such that you’ll go out of 2018 with a big bang in the positive sense! Bit by bit, it’s all we can do. I’m thinking of you x

  • It sounds like you have some good goals for 2018! I’m glad you had a good Christmas!

  • I so enjoy reading your writing – your thoughtfulness and insights always resonate with me. I think I’ll give this month’s link-up/prompts a shot myself!

    • Thank you Sarah, I appreciate the comment! 😀 Would be super awesome to have you on board this month! Happy New Year! xx

  • An online shop sounds fab! I think your goals and ideas for the year are fantastic – you’ve helped encourage me to start thinking about my own as I’ve put off thinking about the new year until now..!
    Wishing you all the best for a productive yet healthy, happy and positive 2018! 🙂

    • Hi Caz,

      Thank you, and I’m really glad I helped in some small way or another! Wishing you a healthy, happy and meaningful new year too! x

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