: November 2018 – Present :
Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed reading yesterday’s post! I admit, it was a little longer than I planned this week’s posts to be, but it really sets the stage for the rest of this week’s stories!
So let’s dive into today’s anecdote!
Topic: Self-care!
For those of you who know me, you know I’m go-go-go, constantly doing something, always working on multiple projects at once.
In fact, I don’t really even enjoy watching movies because I feel like I’m not being productive with my time.
Since my ulcerative colitis diagnosis in September, 2014, I’ve slowed down a bit because my colon that seemingly zaps the energy from my body.
Though most days I’m tired—sometimes even crazy lethargic—I still try to force myself to keep being productive. But I’ve learned the hard way that this causes burnout. It’s taken my diagnosis and my colon to quite literally force me to take a step back.
To take a breath.
To go to sleep an hour earlier.
To watch a movie without multitasking.
It took me years to come to terms that I will never have the energy I used to have. So lately, I’ve been learning to accept—and even embrace—self-care practices.
Reading
This is the main form of self-care I’ve been practicing recently.
All my life, I’ve LOVED writing, but I could never stand to read! Can you believe that!? Oh the irony, a writer who never reads.
Part of this is because I’m a picky reader. But mostly it’s because I never allowed myself sit down, relax, and just enjoy the calmness of reading, the thrill of entering another world.
Book #1
I never found enjoyment in reading, until I was recommended Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel.
Station Eleven is insanely captivating. Its shifting between timelines and characters’ points of view keep me constantly intrigued and my hands glued to the book.
The other day, I read half of the entire book in one sitting! I’m not kidding you, it’s THAT good.
I think one of the reasons I love it so much is because it’s setting is post-apocalyptic, which is the same setting as the novel I’m currently writing!
Book #2
Another book I’m currently reading is The Nature Fix by Florence Williams.
The Nature Fix helped me when I was in the hospital, when I was trapped inside four white walls all day for five days with just a little window I couldn’t even see out of from the angle of my bed.
If you are still Christmas shopping and need some inspiration, The Nature Fix would make a great gift!
Book #3
The last book on my current reading list is The Slender Poe Anthology.
The main reason I checked it out from the library was to read The Raven. It plays an important role in my novel-in-progress 🙂
The Beverage Sidekicks
Of course, I’ve been doing all this reading with mug in hand, carrying either Maxwell House’s Instant Coffee that I’m obsessed with, or this Mango tea that my post-colonoscopy nurse gave me in the freezing recovery room.
I never thought I’d say this, but thank you, Colon! You’re helping me slow down, care for myself, and enjoy the present.
Maybe there’s some good in you after all…
: : : : :
That’s a wrap for Day 2 of Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week!
Stay tuned for Day 3 to read a piece of colitis-inspired prose I wrote in my thought journal.
LET’S CHAT
In The Comical Colon’s Facebook group, let’s start a conversation:
I truly believe that the way to bridge this disease type’s chasm of alienation, fear, being misunderstood, etc. is to engage in community and share our experiences to help others along their journeys. Let’s learn to share our fears, our trials, and our triumphs to find the comical in the deepest, darkest crevices of our guts.