Christmas is upon us again. As I am sitting typing this post up, I am reminded of all the blessings I have had this year. 2015 was an adventure.
2015, started off with a big blessing. I got my trach removed. I first got my trach inserted in December 2011 and removed in March 2015. I’m loving being trach free. I love washing my hair again. I no longer have to wash my hair and cough and cough as water gets inside the tube of my trach. It was so annoying, so I dreaded washing my hair. One time I went an entire month without washing my hair. Yuck! Since I have had it removed I wash my hair 3 times a week. A couple of friends have started me on a regiment of using Sally Beauty’s Store generic brand of lavender-tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner. My hair has been thinning due to the autoimmune disease and medications I have to take in order to keep it managed. This shampoo makes my hair feel good and I feel good. I also use soap from “The Soap Factory” that makes my skin feel so good.
Another huge blessing was my nephew started coming a couple of times a week to help me with choirs or to spend time with me. Although, that is going to change as he is in the National Guard and will be heading off to Radio School for his job. He has my blessing. I knew this would only be a temporary thing. I am still thankful that he took the time out of his life to help me deep clean (he pulled the fridge and stove out and cleaned under and behind it), cook yummy meals, and play board games.
I also finally have a caregiver that is worth the money and time. She is positive, funny, does her job, respects me, and isn’t in a hurry when she is around me. When she is with me, I am her priority. I know that she will be heading off to nursing school probably by spring of 2016 and our working relationship will change a bit. The thing I am most thankful for is this caregiver gave me back my sense of adventure again. I’ve been reluctant to use my wheelchair. It’s a shameful thing to me. I no longer feel that way. I need it. When I use my wheelchair out in public I no longer get the looks or the questions of “are you okay?” from strangers. It’s a good feeling. While dreaming with K, I did some research and discovered there are some wheelchair assessable trails and hikes that I can do. I can invite my family or friends to go with me. This excites me. I plan on asking family members and friends in my life if they want to be more active with me on these adventures.
I finally picked out my focus words for 2016, Identity, Worship, Possible, and Open. Last year, my words were Surrender, Proactive, Nutrition, self-care, movement, and serve. I will be writing a post about my progress and what I learned from focusing on these words and even why I have chosen the 4 words I did for 2016.
I hope you all enjoy the Christmas celebrations, time with family and friends, the music, the decoration and the yummy food. I know many of you are fatigued with me and can’t do much. This year, I will be enjoying meals with my friends T and F on Christmas day and then with my family a combination party of my mom’s birthday and Christmas celebration. I’m looking forward to both of these events in my life. I have been enjoying the Christmas movies on TV. There is one that has struck a chord with me years ago while I was going through a toxic relationship. The movie is “The Holiday”, I felt so connected to it that I bought it. The character Iris and her toxic relationship with Jasper hit the most home to me. I haven’t seen it in several years, but I watched it a couple of nights ago. I had a new experience watching it. I usually connected with the sad Iris, the morose Iris that is pinning away over Jasper. But this time I understood the importance of Iris’ gumption and what she said to Jasper as she is kicking him out the door. “I have a life to start living and you will not be a part of it.” This time, I felt my heart leap and saying yes, that is me all the way. I recently had a dream where a voice said to me, “your new chapter is going to be starting”. That is what I am looking forward to the most in 2016. A new chapter, new relationships, new adventures, and most importantly writing, researching, and doing my assignment. What are you looking forward to in 2016?
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