CLICK HERE to submit your own entry, and to read about what others are up to as well!
Adjusting
January has been a pretty tough month for me, in terms of life changes of the ‘normal’ kind. At least no new health issues to add to the list for now, hey? 😉 I’ve had to adjust to many lifestyle changes, but this new routine should settle down soon enough. After all, we were made to adapt and survive as human beings 🙂
Hoping
In continuation to the prompt above, I hope to gain some clarity and answers as to which direction I should move towards in life. Like I said in January’s linkup, I feel like I’ve been drifting on an open ocean aimlessly for far too long. Now’s the perfect time to do something about it, being a ‘new year’ and all, hey?
Sometimes change is brought about through action, and at other times it means to wait things out with patience. It’s a combination for me this time, as I hit the pause button on certain things, and the play button on others. Kind of like an ‘experiment’, if you will, to see what impacts and thus matters to my life more. This might take me a few months to decipher, but as they say, time will tell!
Surviving
I haven’t had a real job for years, but of late I’ve been seeking more opportunities out. I’m fresh on the web development scene again, so I need to familiarise myself with it, and ‘fight’ for jobs if I want to survive in the competitive world of freelancing. Hopefully as time goes by I will manage to regain a foothold, and balance things out a little. For now, I will have to just take it as a reorientation and learning process.
If you’ve noticed a little more silence from me on the blogging side of things, this is why. I have limited energy to spare with chronic illness, so for now I’m putting work as my number one priority every day including some weekends.
It actually feels good to be negotiating and earning some form of salary again. Time will tell if this is sustainable, because my body tends to protest after three months or so of working any job, and I’m starting to feel fatigued already. Pacing will have to be my closest ally during this period; no one else can take care of me except me, for matters such as this.
Befriending
I’ve also been trying to get out of my bubble. You may have read in my previous linkups that I enjoy spending time alone, but to my surprise even I have a limit for that. Years of isolation can have a negative effect on your mental health, no matter how much you enjoy being on your own.
I’ve actually been craving for more human connection, and have been putting in a little more effort to seek this out. I’m trying to befriend and interact with people from totally different circles, so that I can expand my perspectives even more. I would also like to rekindle or maintain certain friendships that matter to me.
Awakening
I would like to awaken my passion for life and feel alive again. Being semi-depressed all day every day is no fun, and no way to live out the rest of my life. Whilst a large part of these mental issues are unavoidable due to my illnesses and medications, I am also responsible for the things within my control. They may not be much, but every little bit counts, and sometimes it’s that last tiny boost that propels you forward and upward.
I want to desire life again. I want something worth fighting for. Yes I know I advocate for certain issues through my blog, but I need even greater personal purpose within my own life. I’m going to let myself go in February, and let life lead the way. I’ll let you know where I end up, if I arrive anywhere at all 😉
Thank you for reading, and I hope to read your responses for February’s prompts too! Click here to submit your own entry, and to read about what others are up to as well!
*Note: This article is meant for educational purposes and is based on the author’s personal experiences. It is not to be substituted for medical advice. Please consult your own doctor before changing or adding any new treatment protocols.
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Hi Sheryl I just realised I commented on February 2018 post lol brain fog much! Anyway both articles I learned something from. Well done on your job I used to be a freelance graphic designer but that job is pretty much dead especially print I’ve been considering upskilling to web skills myself and I even got out of my comfort zone and applied for a weekend job totally unaware if I can manage it yet, but at least we’re willing to do our best. Good luck with your experiment I can’t wait to hear how it works out for you!
Hi Niamh, haha no worries, thanks for reading them both! :p Totally get the brain fog…in fact we’re trying more med changes to see if it helps with my own brain fog issues!
And nice to know that you’re a graphic designer! Perhaps we can collaborate in future. Our fogginess should produce some interesting results at least, hey? 😉
Yes I’ll let you know in the upcoming March prompts how that went ;p x
I totally get what you are going through. I have been feeling lost and trying figure out what I’m “supposed” to be doing right now. My job is making me more sick- but I’ve been doing this job for over 20 years. I am trying to get my degree to do what I really want to do, but that takes time. I’m glad that you are going to see where life takes you. I hope it takes you somewhere good where you find a passion and sense of well-being and purpose.
I was nervous about hitting publish on this month’s post for the link up party. I did it a little differently and I really bared my soul. It’s kinda scary….. Anyway, thank you for your continued support, encouragement and motivation!
Hi Suzanne, thanks! It’s good to know someone else ‘gets it’, though like my partner says, at the end of the day many of us don’t know where we’re going anyway even if healthy heh.
I can’t wait to read your entry when I get some time later. Thank you for sharing and baring your soul. In my limited experience, those are the pieces that really resonate with others and also encourages them, and takes a lot of courage to write. So thank you for that 🙂 Sending gentle hugs!
I understand the energy and trying to work. I still need two hour naps. I hope your new direction works out for you and that you find some local friends. I know how hard that is. It was easier in middle school, and I’m not kidding! I still talk to those people, but adult friendships just come and go.
Haha I am so far…failing at my plans as February goes along :p Which we shall talk about in March :p Sadly friendships can clash with so many other life requirements, and it’s easy to just let them go 🙁
Thanks again for the brilliant prompts for this month, they were very inspiring and really enjoyed attempting to fit them into a cohesive post!
I can relate with your thoughts on befriending. Spending so much time stuck in the house and alone I often miss spending time with people besides my parents! And wishing and hoping that I will find opportunities to connect with others and widen my social circle.
Wishing you all the best for your plans and hope they find you to exactly where you want to be.
Again thank you for the opportunity to take part and connect with so many other bloggers.
Rhiann x
Hi Rhiann, haha, so far I’ve taken a blow healthwise from ‘so much’ socialising. ‘So much’ 😉 But it’s okay. I wanted to have a taste again!
And I’m really happy that you found the prompts inspiring and not tedious. Sometimes I wonder if I’m too serious and hand out too boring prompts 😉
Wishing you a fab Feb! x
I hope the freelance work works out for you and you can balance it with chronic illness. I can say on the isolation and hermit side of things, isolation makes depression worse for me. But I am introverted so I do not realize how isolated I am right away… because I am cool with alone time. So a few years back I made an effort to make some friends and do game nights and that sort of thing… and it does make you feel good mentally and emotionally. But, of course, there is a price to be paid for it as with all things chronic illness… still, worth it
Thanks Nikki! It’s never been easy to balance for me. Even after so many years of living with chronic pain and knowing the importance of pacing, I still forget about it in the heat of the moment, or fool myself into thinking I can handle it :p
Yes seeing people definitely helps, no matter how much we like our alone time. I think it’s even more crucial because I no longer work full time. Perhaps in the past those interactions on a daily basis were half superficial, so you just want to get away and ‘rest’ from peopling. But when you’re on your own and even if you go to meet people who are not your ‘type’, it’s a choice and isn’t quite so bad.
I hope you have success with your blogging jobs. And, I hope that your personal goals are leading you to where you need to be. 🙂
Thanks Lisa 🙂 It’s too early to tell, but I have my fingers and toes crossed! 😉 x
I wish you all the best in your new endeavors, Sheryl!
Thanks dearie. Life is always new in some ways, isn’t 😉 xx
Good luck with your new job Sheryl!
Thanks Kirsten! Not really a single job…just freelancing 🙂