Blogging One Photo at a Time
I often take photos with the idea of blogging a thought or experience. Seems I’ve been doing this for a couple of years and not posting anything here. Maybe life is just like that for me. I go with fits and starts. I’m actually a stellar starter.
Sometimes I’ve been completely immersed in the support of people who are facing ostomy surgery and don’t know what to expect. I’ve enjoyed being a healthy active inspiration to those who are sick. I was once very fearful not knowing what life would be like living with an ostomy and thought my life would be changed forever.
My life has been forever altered now that I have an ileostomy, but along with the disruptive reminders of my limitations have been unexpected moments of tenderness and the powerful strength in resilience.
I’ve had countless quiet pensive times when I reflected on the decision to have the reversal of my JPouch and have a permanent ileostomy. All I can tell you is that the freedom from the daily agony and fear of the toilet was the best decision I made. It’s also one that I feel very protective over when people ask me innocent questions like, “did you try probiotics?” or some well intended inquiry into what could have been done.
Each time I’m given suggestions about what I could do to improve my health, it tosses me into a defensive emotional place. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself. Sometimes I feel very empowered with how far I’ve come. Sometimes I’d rather not think about it at all.
When I do share my medical condition with people, I’m always delighted when they tell me they had no idea. I’m also routinely discouraged by people thinking they can help improve my colon health when I don’t have one. A colon. It’s been completely removed. Anyway – this post isn’t about frustration, it’s more about reflection after two years of no writing. I’ve documented much of my life in photos and routinely snap shots of things that represent emotion.
It’s tough to remember misery in hindsight. Especially when it’s sprinkled with fantastic days of wellness. Anyone with a chronic illness that has times of remission can relate to this. People with an illness that doesn’t show on the outside also knows how discouraging it is to be unwell and misunderstood.
So I’m gathering my photos and putting them into a writing challenge. To get back to posting regularly, I’ve decided the photos will be my topics. Typically they evoke a feeling or memory – each one of these does. It’s organic and free flowing but in somewhat chronological order from the last time I posted here.
Roses were Day 1 that I wrote about yesterday. I wonder if it will take me another two years to write about each of these photos. I’m constantly inspired and routinely struggling.
With gratitude for good days and a healthy sense of reality about the future, I will begin. Here’s the list so far:
- Roses – CHECK!
- I Miss Vegetables
- Fetal Position
- Counting
- Painting and the Art of Healing
- Did You Do Your Best Today?
- Human Body Coloring Book
- Go Big or Go Home
- Dock Jump
- Does This Pie Scare You?
- Meditation Malas and Healing Beads
- Iced Coffee
- Hello Spring
- The K Line Train and How to Keep Moving
- My Mum is My Strength
- Are You Feeling Trapped?
- Pain Chart
- IV Nurses and Other Bedside Visions
- The View from my Hospital Bed
- Hospital 2.0
- What’s on Your Shelf?
- Uranus Gas
- Uncertain Selfie
- Rest and Recovery
- Reflections From My Desk
- Wonderwoman Nail Polish and Power Stances
- Mother Mary in My Accessories Drawer
- Pebble Path to Cross
- From Soup to the ER
- Hearst out the Passenger Window
- Ice Cream with No Regrets
- How do you Measure Up?
- Beets at the Picnic
- Bleak Chair at Dusk
- Brick Walls
- My Hubs and Humor
- Defeated; a Self Portrait
- Grey Days
- Be Nice
- It’s Perfectly OK
- Showing Up
- WonderWoman Mother’s Day
- Sister Stash
- Room Service
- Stand Together
- Staying Connected with Snapchat
- Painting Even When You’re No Good
- Life & Love in Handmade Quilts
- Golf and WHITE SHORTS
- White Shorts 2.0!
- Swimming – Even Diving!
- White Pants!
- Collections and Reflections
- Tray of Treasures
- Swim Skirts and Bikinis Tops
- Milkshakes
- Heart to Heart
- Anniversary and the Fitted Dress
- Dog Days and Daughters
- Home is Where We Gather
- Saturday Dog Sketching
- Neighborhood Craft Day Q&A
- Road Trip Packing List
- Backup Wardrobe
- When in Doubt – Double Up
- Weekend in Mexico