@hopeful33250 Thanks for the compliment Teresa. Sure, share it. AND I am just realizing another coping mechanism I have learned to use to my advantage and comfort for others. I call it 'Patterned Living'. As I get older, the more I follow this thing. I learned it in my early years. In a large family, it is especially important. When Doctor Sarazin held me up to show me to my parent, he told my folks they should not expect me to see my third birthday because I was a "floppy baby". But as soon as possible, I started working and playing hard. I carried wood for the fire, pulled weeds in the garden, then milked cows and fed pigs and horses, then irrigated, and harvested crops. And went to school, played sports, held many heavy labor jobs. Ran half-marathons occasionally. Played, coached and officiated football until I hit 60.The point is, that nearly everything I did had to have a pattern. I still do that. I develop and adjust patterns which make it easier and more appropriate for myself, my family, my employers, and, yes, especially for the congregations I have served as pastor, executive, counselor, grant and loan writer, and now in retirement with a bucket full of diseases coming to fulfillment. For instance, I eat about the same thing for meals and needed snacks, every day. Simple breakfast sandwich. Green salad for lunch. Meat and veggies for dinner. Snack of almonds for snack. Each morning I have the same routine. Take me about ten minutes to get my body out of bed. Wash my hands. Use the catheter. Take my meds, mostly pain killers and heart. Record BP, Pulse, any blood flow. Measure my glucose with my Libre. Take insulin. Write it all down. Shower, especially with Tar Soap in my hear to take out the sticky dandruff. Put Noxema or some other cream all over my face to ease the pain of the vascular breakout Then breakfast, and read my Email, and write in my Amyloidosis book. You see how it goes. By following this pattern I can feel free about breaking loose and doing something different when it comes by. I walk around the block when I can, if the weather and the pain are not too bad. But if I am late getting home, Donella knows where to look for me. Anyway, this patterned living helps me, helps Donella, helps the docs, etc.

Jump to this post