Today the sun was shining (hey, I live in Southern California), and I was in my front yard planting flowers in my garden. So, I wondered could I have done this back in the day when I wasn’t feeling as well? At my very worst no way, but with a some return of energy and perhaps a little bit of help, yes. I could have and I did. It got me thinking about the little things that we can do to help us tune into the creative forces of life, even when in pain. My hypothesis: healing is a positive creative expression of nature.

If you’re too ill to plant a garden outside - or you live in a colder climate - why not a container garden in your house? Playing around in the dirt looking at pretty flowers is most definitely healing. You might need someone to go to the garden center to get you some dirt, a pot and, a planter too. They might have to get you set up at the kitchen table and lay some newspaper down so you can work. But, I bet it will be worth it and they’ll enjoy it too.

What about art? In 1992, I spent 10 days in the hospital, and I asked my family to bring me some colored pencils and a journal to draw in. I drew flowers, I drew a tree outside my hospital window, I doodled and I wrote. Mind you I got a C in art classes, but with very little energy or ability to do anything else, I somehow was able to tap my creative side. As it turned out, it really helped me get in touch with my power. As a side benefit, it helped my son, too. He also got a few pages of doodle art in that journal.

So, though the focus of Women, Work and Autoimmune Disease is on the many issues and questions pertaining to work, we’ve also devoted an entire chapter to Building Your Support Team, including your own membership on that team. In the examples I gave today I mentioned etting help. It’s a good thing. It’s most definitely part of the journey when you live with an Autoimmune Disease.

Tell us: Has living with your illness opened up a bit more of your creative side, and has that somehow helped you to heal, too? Has it given you permission to ask for and receive help where you might not have before?

Joan

P.S. If you follow the links to our book in this post, you’ll notice they go to a page on www.amazon.com. We’re excited to tell you Women, Work and Autoimmune Disease is now available to pre-order from Amazon.com. 

Bookmark It

Hide Sites