1. < Neuropathy

Time to give up? Mourn and accept new health reality?

Posted by keeptrying @keeptrying, Jan 31, 2018

As each day brings new limitations, I think it is irrational for me to continue to reach out to sustain the way of life I had. Is it really that bad to retreat to the world of books,gardening,music,etc instead of an outward looking way of life?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

Parus | @parus | Feb 1, 2018
In reply to @johnbishop "@keeptrying I'm with @oldkarl. It can be depressing to look back at what was instead of..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@keeptrying I'm with @oldkarl. It can be depressing to look back at what was instead of looking forward with what is. Life really is about changes and how we react to the changes. Me, I hate change. I hate that I can't walk more than a few blocks and then it's a struggle but I just try to do the best I can and work on seeing if I can go a little further each day. I think it's always a good thing to reach out and see if there are ways or treatments you can do to help with your current health problems. Each of us are unique and there just maybe that one thing out there that will help. I have resigned myself to never being able to run but then I couldn't run very fast even as a kid. Now I'm the guy you want to be with if a bear is chasing you. All you have to do is outrun me which is not too hard to do. ☺

Do you have any hobbies that you enjoy that you can do? I like taking pictures of critters out of my window in the room where I have computer. Took this one yesterday - squirrel jumped on my bird feeder and ate most of a large bird seed wheel.

Hoping you have a pain free rest of the week.

John

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a very happy and well dined bushy tailed rodent. Thank you for sharing and giving me a chuckle.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Feb 1, 2018
In reply to @johnbishop "@keeptrying I'm with @oldkarl. It can be depressing to look back at what was instead of..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@keeptrying I'm with @oldkarl. It can be depressing to look back at what was instead of looking forward with what is. Life really is about changes and how we react to the changes. Me, I hate change. I hate that I can't walk more than a few blocks and then it's a struggle but I just try to do the best I can and work on seeing if I can go a little further each day. I think it's always a good thing to reach out and see if there are ways or treatments you can do to help with your current health problems. Each of us are unique and there just maybe that one thing out there that will help. I have resigned myself to never being able to run but then I couldn't run very fast even as a kid. Now I'm the guy you want to be with if a bear is chasing you. All you have to do is outrun me which is not too hard to do. ☺

Do you have any hobbies that you enjoy that you can do? I like taking pictures of critters out of my window in the room where I have computer. Took this one yesterday - squirrel jumped on my bird feeder and ate most of a large bird seed wheel.

Hoping you have a pain free rest of the week.

John

Jump to this post

@parus - here's a link to a video of how he got on my bird feeder. Guess I need to shovel some snow from under my feeder so the squirrel cone is higher. It's one of those keep trying until you get it right messages.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1suhaodmVrDuLPABmVFDp8piIBsZk1swt/view?usp=sharing

John

REPLY
thankful | @thankful | Feb 1, 2018
In reply to @johnbishop "@keeptrying I'm with @oldkarl. It can be depressing to look back at what was instead of..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@keeptrying I'm with @oldkarl. It can be depressing to look back at what was instead of looking forward with what is. Life really is about changes and how we react to the changes. Me, I hate change. I hate that I can't walk more than a few blocks and then it's a struggle but I just try to do the best I can and work on seeing if I can go a little further each day. I think it's always a good thing to reach out and see if there are ways or treatments you can do to help with your current health problems. Each of us are unique and there just maybe that one thing out there that will help. I have resigned myself to never being able to run but then I couldn't run very fast even as a kid. Now I'm the guy you want to be with if a bear is chasing you. All you have to do is outrun me which is not too hard to do. ☺

Do you have any hobbies that you enjoy that you can do? I like taking pictures of critters out of my window in the room where I have computer. Took this one yesterday - squirrel jumped on my bird feeder and ate most of a large bird seed wheel.

Hoping you have a pain free rest of the week.

John

Jump to this post

@johnbishop Preety crafty squirrel there John! loved the vidio!

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Feb 1, 2018

Hi @keeptrying
Here's an observation from my side of the screen. New limitations may be revealing new horizons. Have you noticed that the 2 discussions that you initiated on Connect in the Neuropathy group have resulted in very useful and reflective conversations touching many members?
- Acceptance https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/acceptance/ is the other discussion.

Perhaps "giving up" could be reframed as "Discovering The New ________" (The fill-in-the-blank options are endless: possibilities, capabilities, talents, super power.)

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Gary, Alumni Mentor | @gman007 | Feb 1, 2018

As Captain Kirk would have said in the 60's, "going where no man has gone before"! OK, maybe a bit overdramatic, but how about where no woman has gone before? This seems an appropriate time for that one. I think Colleen is spot on, though. I am reading a book on Mindfulness and it talks about how we go through a lot of our lives on autopilot and missing moments or as us golfers always try to "stay in the present". I can not impact anything that happened yesterday nor that which will happen tomorrow and if I think of either, I will miss the present. Sports coaches always talk about not letting one loss best us twice because we have not flushed it from our memory banks.I have used every tired cliche I can think of, so I will shut up and allow you the present to see what it holds.

REPLY
keeptrying | @keeptrying | Feb 1, 2018
In reply to @johnbishop "@keeptrying I'm with @oldkarl. It can be depressing to look back at what was instead of..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@keeptrying I'm with @oldkarl. It can be depressing to look back at what was instead of looking forward with what is. Life really is about changes and how we react to the changes. Me, I hate change. I hate that I can't walk more than a few blocks and then it's a struggle but I just try to do the best I can and work on seeing if I can go a little further each day. I think it's always a good thing to reach out and see if there are ways or treatments you can do to help with your current health problems. Each of us are unique and there just maybe that one thing out there that will help. I have resigned myself to never being able to run but then I couldn't run very fast even as a kid. Now I'm the guy you want to be with if a bear is chasing you. All you have to do is outrun me which is not too hard to do. ☺

Do you have any hobbies that you enjoy that you can do? I like taking pictures of critters out of my window in the room where I have computer. Took this one yesterday - squirrel jumped on my bird feeder and ate most of a large bird seed wheel.

Hoping you have a pain free rest of the week.

John

Jump to this post

One of the many reasons this group is helpful is that sometimes you can't help but smile!☺ Love your critter photo. I too tinker around with photography. There is something calming about doing a 'still life' of something you find in nature. If I can't hike in the woods anymore, I can surely bring the woods to me. Photography also brings the element of surprise that you encounter in a hike. Nature is good medicine for the soul (I think.)

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keeptrying | @keeptrying | Feb 1, 2018
In reply to @jimhd "@keeptrying I think that it can be healthy to have times of solitude. My wife and..." + (show)
@jimhd

@keeptrying

I think that it can be healthy to have times of solitude. My wife and I live out in the country, and most days don't see another person. When weather and health permit, I'm outside in the yard and gardens. No one bothers me then. Generally, I feel better about life during those times. My service dog is never far away from me for very long. She always comes to check on me, and sometimes will lie in the grass and watch me.

I think I know myself enough to know that it's helpful to me to reach out to others. I visit a woman who just celebrated her 104th birthday. I don't know which of us looks forward to those weekly visits more. She's a treasure trove of interesting experiences. She loves that I can look up events and locations on my phone.

Lots of people don't like to be alone. They are happiest in a group of people. Not I.

I say, enjoy your alone time while you can.

Jim

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Thank you jimhd. I am learning to embrace solitude. My father loved Thoreau so I am reading his meditations. Your words echo his, I think. I volunteer at a local hospice, just reading and listening. Self pity does not exist there. A butterfly landing on the windowsill is cause for celebration. Makes my losses seem minimal.

REPLY
keeptrying | @keeptrying | Feb 1, 2018
In reply to @jimhd "@keeptrying I think that it can be healthy to have times of solitude. My wife and..." + (show)
@jimhd

@keeptrying

I think that it can be healthy to have times of solitude. My wife and I live out in the country, and most days don't see another person. When weather and health permit, I'm outside in the yard and gardens. No one bothers me then. Generally, I feel better about life during those times. My service dog is never far away from me for very long. She always comes to check on me, and sometimes will lie in the grass and watch me.

I think I know myself enough to know that it's helpful to me to reach out to others. I visit a woman who just celebrated her 104th birthday. I don't know which of us looks forward to those weekly visits more. She's a treasure trove of interesting experiences. She loves that I can look up events and locations on my phone.

Lots of people don't like to be alone. They are happiest in a group of people. Not I.

I say, enjoy your alone time while you can.

Jim

Jump to this post

Wonderful words of wisdom, thank you. As we speak my orchids bud is just starting to blossom...You never know!☺

REPLY
Parus | @parus | Feb 2, 2018
In reply to @parus "@jimhd I much prefer being alone and so enjoy playing in the dirt. Don't have much..." + (show)
@parus

@jimhd I much prefer being alone and so enjoy playing in the dirt. Don't have much dirt to play in, but make the most of what little I do have. Amazing how much can be packed into a small place with some know-how. Always enjoyed landscape and design. Those days are gone. I miss having room to roam. I also know it is no longer realistic. Still adjusting :(. A Test for sure.

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@keeptrying So sorry.

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Parus | @parus | Feb 2, 2018

There are times when nothing works. Succumb and ride it through.

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