I don't know about you but I'm already feeling the holiday "dreads." Invitations, cholesterol masquerading as food, rivers of alcohol, late nights. I can feel my pain receptors begin to ignite just thinking about how to take care of myself over the next few months.
Other than the abandon and the gluttony, I also worry about letting others down if I have to bow out of an engagement I committed to because of pain. And I worry about letting myself down if I overdo things and risk doing what I know (but don't want to acknowledge) might cause a pain surge.
I do lean on Richard to be the voice of sound judgment. I ask him to provide the balance when I am strung out on the line between yearning to ignore risk and just indulge, and avoiding all social activity because I fear a relapse.
But I don't make it easy for him. When he is the voice of caution, I resist. I say, "It's the holidays, after all. Why can't I act like a normal person once a year?" When he is the voice of indulgence I shrink away and hide in a corner. "I can't possibly go out three nights this week. I'll crash."
So I hope maybe this holiday season I can find the balance between quarantine and hedonism.
What are your holiday challenges? How do you and your partner get through the holidays?
4 comments:
This is going to be my first holiday since becoming ill so I'll take any tips from those of you with experience with this.
I can totally understand and relate to this post...don't know what a "normal" person is tho, might you mean someone who is healthier? enjoy your writing. thanks!
I enjoy your writing...Holidays need to be simplified when not feeling well. Don't ever sign on for too much. By "normal" do you mean someone who is healthier than you? I honestly think no one is normal around the holidays!!!!seems like everyone is scrambling, right? not worth it to stress out. stay unscheduled and be happy.
Hi Baffled, anonymous, & Colleen and thanks for your comments.
Your question about what do I mean by a normal person really forced me to think - what do I mean??
I think I meant: someone who does not have to consider serious health repercussions of going to a party or eating too much stuffing.
But you really made me think (thank you!). I can have my condition and still be normal; and no one is really normal over the holidays. Two points really well taken.
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