The best piece of advice I was every given was to do something fun everyday.
It can be really hard to follow that advice when you’re dealing with chronic pain. Appointments can take over your life leaving you very little down time. Awful flareups of symptoms can last days, weeks, months, making it very hard to cope. Or you just feel down much or all of the time.
But that’s also why its so important to be very, very intentional about finding something fun or enjoyable to do every day. And it can be anything that brings you joy- colouring, listening to a podcast, watching the next episode of the series you’re binge watching, baking, spending time with your pets, going for a walk.
For me, I have different types of activities I do depending on how I’m feeling that day. Some days, listening to podcasts is the extent of my energy level. Finding ones that are funny and uplifting helps me as I need a good laugh on a rough day. It also helps to immerse myself in a good story so I can temporarily forget what I’m struggling with. Or doodling in my sketchbook is something low-energy that I can do from the comfort of my bed or couch.
And, of course, my cats, Thomas and Cleo, are always ready for a good cuddle session. They jump into my lap as soon as I sit down on the couch, demanding to be petted. Spending time with them brings me a ton of joy and is very relaxing. And I find their presence comforting.
Other days, I can do more active things. I love gardening and just being outside fills my soul. Watching to see what new flowers are in bloom today really brightens my day. As does picking flowers from my garden to enjoy inside.
And I’ve also found that volunteering also brings me a lot of joy. Spending time helping others helps me too. It helps me be part of something bigger than myself and to connect with others in a meaningful way. It gets me out of my head and lets me focus on others. I appreciate that there are lots of ways to volunteer, including online options that I can do at my own pace when I’m feeling up to it.
As much as life with chronic pain is a struggle, there is still joy and goodness in life. You just have to be very intentional about finding it.
Hi, I’m Emily Summerhayes, I’m thrilled to be a guest here! When I’m not crafting, sewing, or drawing, you are most likely to find me in the garden ripping out weeds. Or playing with my miniature goats Cinnamon and Sesame or cuddling my cats Thomas and Cleo and dog Diesel. I have CRPS, FND, and POTS, but still love to create, swim, volunteer with 4-H, and be outside.
Living With Chronic Illness 