“Anyone can carry his burden, however hard, until nightfall. Anyone can do his work, however hard, for one day. Anyone can live sweetly, patiently, lovingly, purely, till the sun goes down. And this is all life really means.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
Better people than me have been saying for many years that all we need to do is take it one day at a time. Some days just seem longer than others, don’t they? But one day at a time, one after the other, and then months and years go by before we even realize.
And that’s the rub, isn’t it?
Today is an anniversary of sorts for me. It was just one year ago that I fell and sprained my ankle while camping out at Lake Mead in Nevada. Seemed like such a small thing at the time but that fall dramatically changed my life. One year later, I’m in physical therapy for that ankle injury and still dealing with a crazy list of other physical “adventures” that poked their noses up and took up residence in my body while I was focused on the ankle.
It’s been a long year.
I’ve often found myself wondering if it’s ever going to end, especially lately when all the financial parts of these adventures have finally made their way home. I don’t know if I’ll ever get the doctors and hospitals paid off but I’m keeping my chin up (most of the time) and one day, one bill, one payment at a time, it’ll all be over some day.
Won’t it? Tell me I’m not wrong! Tell me the light at the end of the tunnel is not a freight train!
* * * * * * *
The quote above from Robert Lewis Stevenson was posted by my Facebook friend, Paula, today with a beautiful photo of a bird sitting on a feeder. It was the impetus I needed to write another blog post after taking a long break from the last one I wrote about gratitude and other such stuff. Yes, I’ve been writing my gratitude list and yes, I have a long list of things I’m grateful for. And yes, I’m ready for all this crap to end. I’m having a tough time staying in the current moment of what’s happening right here right now, not reliving the past year and what could have been done differently, and especially not freaking out about the future and how the hell I’m going to get the bills paid and get on with my life, whatever that means. I swing from the high of being in awe at the wonder of springtime in the Pacific Northwest (when it isn’t raining, it’s gorgeous!), to the low of feeling like I’m never going to dig myself out, to the high of being in gratitude for my friends who have been by my side throughout all this insanity, to the low of knowing there are new places to see, new foods to eat, new people to mee and I’m not doing any of it. I’m worn out from all the swinging!!
Okay.
Onward and upward.
Rock on.
Another day, another dollar.
Tomorrow’s another day.
I know it is much easier for others, like me, to tell you time will pass and things will be better. But, I also know, it is much more difficult for you, as you live each day and each bill as it comes. Just know you are in my thoughts and prayers often. Sending you love and hugs!
Thanks, Lorna! Love and hugs back to you ♡
Happy anniversary sort of! Now onward and upward. You had better read my blog post today someone you know is mentioned! 🙂
Barbara, what a surprise to find myself in your blog post! I left you a comment there… thanks for being in my corner ♡
All I can say, Lois, is I’m so happy to have met you and spent some time sharing a campsite outside Quartzsite last year, apparently, not too long before you began this “obstacle course” of life. Life happens – to all of us – in one form or another. As the old saying goes, this too shall pass. Believe me, you are an inspiration to others going through their own trials, perhaps more difficult than yours. You also are becoming stronger because you are pushing your way forward. Yep! You, me and pretty much everyone I know has to deal with some s**t in life. But, when I look outside my own little shell and see what many others are dealing with, I count my blessings. Another old saying – changed, slightly – “life’s a witch and then . . . you fly.” Rock on, my friend.
Live free & be happy,
Ed
Hahaha! Ed, I love the saying with the witch tweaks – so perfect!
As of last month, I’m finally over all the doctors (8 different specialists trying to figure out my body’s adventure!) and only have 3 or 4 of them left to deal with for the long-term issues (I’ve lost count – I’m too tired to keep up with it all). I’m grateful that I have people in my life who cheer me up, who encourage me, who remind me that it could be worse and for many it is. I’ve learned that having people around you when you’re having to deal with this crap is life-saving. I’ve also learned who I can depend on to do that, and who I’m not able to – valuable information to have, for sure.
Most days, I’m happy to play this game we call Being a Human Being and pretty much have been most of my life – which I think has made the down days seem even more down, because it’s not my regular way of being. Thanks for the words of encouragement, Ed – it’s good to have people in our lives to keep us on the path of lightness and you’ve certainly been one of those for me. Rock on, my friend!
Thank you for sharing your ups and downs with us, Lois. You are a special lady! I hope that the next 12 months will have a lot more highs than lows. Hugs!
Thank you, Paula! I’m hoping for more ups than downs, too 😀 Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment ♡
As usual your cup is half full. I am praying you get past this anniversey and find another anniversary to celebrate a happier. heathly more adventrious milestone. Hugs
I’m so ready to have the rest of my cup full again 😀 It’s the downer anniversaries that get us, isn’ it? We need more upper anniversaries! Uppiversaries! hahaha!