Keep On Going!

This month is CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) awareness month. CRPS is a rare and chronic condition with no cure. It can be difficult to keep going with this condition as it is incredibly painful. The McGill Pain Index rates CRPS as one of the most painful conditions known. But it is so important to live your life even when your body doesn’t cooperate.

A Metaphor to Keep Going

Today when I was at work my computer decided to put up an error message that there was damage that needed repair.

After attempting repairs it stated that repairs could not be made. Then it gave me two options on how to proceed. I could either click on “shut down” or I could click on “keep going”. Of course I clicked “keep going”. As I sat there I started to laugh because what a great metaphor for my life with CRPS and 4 other chronic illnesses. This is kind of how I feel about my body every single day. It gives me alerts that it isn’t doing well, but nothing can be done to fix it. I can either give up or I can push through.

It’s important to me to not let my chronic illnesses own me and my life. Will there be days and parts of days where I need to adjust my expectations, absolutely. We all need rest and to not push ourselves way too hard. But that isn’t giving up on life. It’s adjusting to a new normal. A normal with chronic illness. There are days when it’s really hard. I know that I have made it through 100% of my hard days and that I still find things that make life so worth it. So worth being able to keep going. I have such an appreciation for the smallest of things. Although a fancy vacation would be nice, there is still joy in sitting at the park, talking with people I love, sunsets, flowers, dogs, and so much more.

What I ask of you, is to keep going. I know there are things knocking you down, backwards, and sideways. Make sure you make space for you, get the rest you need, adjust your life to what works for you. But keep fighting and keep living. There is still a beautiful world and kind people out there!