My heart goes out you and surrounds you with love and care! Keep writing! Your writing is so powerful. I pray that you are getting better soon. You are on the Prayer List at Unity Chapel of Light in Tallmadge and prayers are being said for you in Unity Village in Missouri. You’re brave even when you don’t think you are! ♥️♥️♥️Hal♥️♥️♥️
That's the gift of this illness, as much as none of us ever wanted it -- the secret that healthy people don't know. We learn that when we don't have work, don't have relationships, don't have hobbies, don't move in the world, we still exist. So, all those things that we feel define people -- accomplishments, titles, labels -- apparently don't actually define us, because if they did, we wouldn't exist. So, then, if we don't have those things, who are we? Who is anyone? I was severely limited by ME/CFS decades ago, and none of those books in my head or ideas for non-profits happened, the marriage and family never happened, the friendships faded away. To many people, I don't have any definition. Though I wish I could have lived that life, I still feel as though I have accomplished a great deal in this life, through learning to let go, and let go, and let go, and learn that people's true nature is not something that's easy to see. I'd rather not have had to learn it through such hardship, but it's more than most people ever learn.
I actually had juvenile onset, gradual onset ME/CFS, but suddenly went from mild/moderate to severe 32 years ago, after a virus. I've done and tried many things over the years, rest and pacing being the most important of them, and I'm at moderate now, and can do much more than I did 30, 20, or even 10 years ago. I'm hopeful about research that is happening now, probably for the first time in all these years. I think you are right to be hopeful. But it takes so much patience and fortitude.
Thank you for documenting this season of your life for us. You’re an incredible writer, and your talent, humility, wonder, perspective, and honesty are deeply appreciated. ❤️
Missing seeing you and Melba at the market downtown. Maybe it's partly you and Melba not making the trip down or maybe my own physical slowdown that's been in process since a couple months ago. It's funny how life is trying to teach us lessons that seem always harder to learn. I look forward to seeing you again soon when we're both feeling stronger.
It is hard to press „like“ on your post - please rather see it as a hug! Yes, ME/CFS can rob us of so many things. And the gifts are hard to see and even harder to receive. I have made it from moderate to mild in this year and I have to remind myself again and again to set priorities in my life. I do smaller art, I stopped trying to do 30-day creative challenges or even NaNoWriMo. I write, paint and create in my own pace. And sometimes I feel like this is much deeper than my rushing from one thing to another - I was a lot like you in this regard. Today was the first day in years I picked up my harp again. It was a lot of fiddling and too many strings and fingers at the wrong place. But it felt good to be back and I want to start playing more. Not daily, not regularly, but when I have the energy.
Thank you for your newsletter and I hope you will find a way back and enough energy to be creative again!
My heart goes out you and surrounds you with love and care! Keep writing! Your writing is so powerful. I pray that you are getting better soon. You are on the Prayer List at Unity Chapel of Light in Tallmadge and prayers are being said for you in Unity Village in Missouri. You’re brave even when you don’t think you are! ♥️♥️♥️Hal♥️♥️♥️
Thank you, Carol.
That's the gift of this illness, as much as none of us ever wanted it -- the secret that healthy people don't know. We learn that when we don't have work, don't have relationships, don't have hobbies, don't move in the world, we still exist. So, all those things that we feel define people -- accomplishments, titles, labels -- apparently don't actually define us, because if they did, we wouldn't exist. So, then, if we don't have those things, who are we? Who is anyone? I was severely limited by ME/CFS decades ago, and none of those books in my head or ideas for non-profits happened, the marriage and family never happened, the friendships faded away. To many people, I don't have any definition. Though I wish I could have lived that life, I still feel as though I have accomplished a great deal in this life, through learning to let go, and let go, and let go, and learn that people's true nature is not something that's easy to see. I'd rather not have had to learn it through such hardship, but it's more than most people ever learn.
Thank you for this. Let go and let go and let go.
Tamesin….Decades ago? How are you mangling life these days ? You make me feel hopeful for my son’s health.
I actually had juvenile onset, gradual onset ME/CFS, but suddenly went from mild/moderate to severe 32 years ago, after a virus. I've done and tried many things over the years, rest and pacing being the most important of them, and I'm at moderate now, and can do much more than I did 30, 20, or even 10 years ago. I'm hopeful about research that is happening now, probably for the first time in all these years. I think you are right to be hopeful. But it takes so much patience and fortitude.
Thank you.❤️
Thank you Hal. I’m trying to notice every moment of the golden light on the trees and the fluttering of leaves.
Me too, Trish.
Thank you for documenting this season of your life for us. You’re an incredible writer, and your talent, humility, wonder, perspective, and honesty are deeply appreciated. ❤️
Thank you so much, Christine. I really appreciate your words.
Hi Hal,
Missing seeing you and Melba at the market downtown. Maybe it's partly you and Melba not making the trip down or maybe my own physical slowdown that's been in process since a couple months ago. It's funny how life is trying to teach us lessons that seem always harder to learn. I look forward to seeing you again soon when we're both feeling stronger.
I love reading your thoughts.
Fritz.
Thank you so much, Fritz. I too look forward to seeing you when we're both feeling stronger.
It is hard to press „like“ on your post - please rather see it as a hug! Yes, ME/CFS can rob us of so many things. And the gifts are hard to see and even harder to receive. I have made it from moderate to mild in this year and I have to remind myself again and again to set priorities in my life. I do smaller art, I stopped trying to do 30-day creative challenges or even NaNoWriMo. I write, paint and create in my own pace. And sometimes I feel like this is much deeper than my rushing from one thing to another - I was a lot like you in this regard. Today was the first day in years I picked up my harp again. It was a lot of fiddling and too many strings and fingers at the wrong place. But it felt good to be back and I want to start playing more. Not daily, not regularly, but when I have the energy.
Thank you for your newsletter and I hope you will find a way back and enough energy to be creative again!
Thank you, Julia.
❤️❤️❤️
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