Health Journey

You Are Not Alone

Being chronically sick you often feel alone.

Your friends are going out, moving on with their days, weeks, and months. As my dad would say when I was younger “Girl, you are outta sight, outta mind.”  I knew it wasn’t a particular friend not wanting to be my friend it was just easier for them to go on with their lives when I wasn’t around.

That’s pretty much how it feels when I am sick. I KNOW my friends care about me so much, but it’s easier for them to think of me when I am around. I understand.

I think I am alone…and then a cute little furry friend surprises me and jumps onto my recliner. Yes, that my Bella. She’s a 8 pound Yorkshire Terrier. And a blessing from God. We found her at the perfect time. But that’s a whole other story. God knew I needed her in my life.

There’s that saying, “It’s a dog’s life.” People used to refer to that as if to say a dog’s life is a very hard life. But to me it’s the opposite. My dog lays around all day. The best part is that she lays with me. Wherever I am, she is.  If I am on the couch, she is laying on my feet. If I am in my bed, she is curled up right next to my body. If I am in my recliner she lays on the foot of it or under the foot rest. Lol. If she hears her dog friends outside she will go and bark and visit them but then no matter what she always comes back. She never leaves me.

This is a great example of how God is, He never leaves us. If we are in the deepest, saddest place He will be with us there too. If we pull away with all our human might, He will come find us. He is the shepherd and we are his lambs.

I think often when we are upset we feel like God is not there or He doesn’t get near such pain, like He is too holy to be near me when I am in such a dark place. But that’s NOT the case at all when we are in are deepest sadness He is there holding us, comforting us.

That is a great mental picture to think of when you feel alone. It really helps. He meets us where we are. Just as Bella is my support/therapy dog she is always comforting me. If I am feeling really sick she knows and gets closer and closer to me. If I am crying she nudges forward until she she reaches my crying face. Just her happy little self makes me smile when I look at her.

Puppies are the best medicine, like babies. Even when she is laying cute we are always like “aww she’s adorable.” She is very special to me and completes our family.

Therefore I know I am not alone because I have God and my support dog Bella with me always. When you feel lonely try to distract yourself. I play with my dog or color with music on and really just try to relax. You can too. Find your own “Bella” and find comfort in yourself, God, and the people who are there for you.

Health Journey

Sometimes Its Hard

It’s late and that is when negative thought start to creep in my head and I try with all my might and through prayer to push them out.

I have been seeing so many YouTube videos, Instagram, and twitter posts on Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour. I have loved her from the beginning ever since I saw her sing on the CMAs with Tim McGraw. I have never judged her and always believed she handled being famous really well. I loved her songs about her ex boyfriends! Her music has gotten me through really tough stuff in my life from having cancer, being bullied, and breakups and relationships.

When I had a MAKE-A-WISH, I was deciding between meeting her and going to Hawaii, I chose Hawaii so I could go with my family for a week. I have truly admired how much in interviews and on her tours how she was so real and really just seemed like a sweet “Girl Trying to Make a Place in This World,” that’s from one of her songs. I loved her country music but then when she slowly transitioned through Red to 1989 all the way to Reputation, I feel IN LOVE even more!!! I love that as she grew as a person she was able to guide all that growing into new music each time.

When I went to her 1989 Tour, I was so emotional it was directly after a breakup and literally EXACTLY what she said was what I needed to hear. I totally knew God was looking out for me.

Now it’s 2018. She has her Reputation Stadium Tour and I can’t go. I can’t attempt to get tickets, I can’t listen to her cd the whole way there, I can’t be excited and look forward to going, I can’t stand in the stadium and breath in all the hopes and dreams of the other fans, I can’t walk through the crowds and crowds of people, I can’t stand in line in the merchandise tour booth, I can’t scream and yell for her when she comes out or even when there is an encore. I can’t.

This is when having a chronic illness that affects all of this really gets in the way. I just have to be a fan from a far and cheer her on in my own house.

I do miss life sometimes. This is one of those moments that hit me hard. I want to go, I want to be there, I want to have fun, I want to be normal. But I am not normal. I am unique. I am powerful even in my weakness. I have a God who loves me and wants to be in relationship with me. I have the strength to stay away from the tour and the wisdom to know I won’t be able to go. It’s not easy, but it’s possible with God to conquer anything.

I really do admire everything Taylor Swift is doing, she works with Make a Wish, is involved in so many charities, she still tries to have a love life even though her relationships have been rocky. I just enjoy seeing her blossom into the amazing woman she is. I am proud to be her fan.