Happy Midweek, y’all! I hope you are having a good week. Once we are at the halfway point of the week, the weekend is getting closer, and the last part of the week should be easier to get through. During the first half of your week, what was the best part for you? I will try to briefly explain how things have been going for me during the past several years. When we endure challenging situations in our lives, we must find healthy ways to deal with them, and the only way I know is to write about them. Some of the things I will write about you may have experience with, or you may be able to understand and even offer advice, which I would appreciate!
The past few years have not been easy for me. There have been many times I have felt like I was drowning and could not reach a life preserver. I know everyone in the United States has been struggling for many reasons, and I feel for those who are unable to have a roof over their heads and food on their tables. In comparison to what the rest of the country is going through, I do not feel as though I have a right to complain about my struggles. Of course, I never think complaining or feeling sorry for myself is worth it, because they will never change the situation. So, I try to focus on anything and everything else. Considering I have been trying to ignore issues that cause me stress, I have focused my attention on reading, and I have read over ten books this year, and they were not short books. Reading has been an escape from reality, but you can only avoid reality for so long before you must face it.
For the past two years, I have been searching for a job, but I have not had any success. Of course, I did take time away from the job search by enrolling in school for medical coding, but this path has hit a brick wall. In the United States, when you do not have employment, you do not have health insurance, which, for someone living with a medical issue, such as Multiple Sclerosis, is very challenging. Even when you are employed and receive insurance through the company you work for, insurance is very expensive. The medications and doctors’ appointments that I need for Multiple Sclerosis are extremely expensive and lead to overwhelming stress. Now, anyone who understands Multiple Sclerosis knows that stress makes everything worse. Of course, we have all heard that stress is the silent killer, but stress mixed with a medical issue intensifies things.
I have also had other worries on my mind lately that I do not talk about because there is not much I can do to help. My parents have not been together since I was two years old, but they are both battling health issues. My mother lives in another state, which is more than a quick drive, but would require a plane ride. She has suffered heart issues for many years, but I recently discovered she is having a Cardiac Cath on Friday. I know these procedures are common, but that does not stop me from worrying about her. As for my father, life has been rough for several years. Not only has he struggled with his own health issues, but he has also lost his wife, whom he was married to for many years. Unfortunately, he is now dealing with the return of cancer while he deals with Parkinson’s disease. I have felt it is my responsibility to try helping both of my parents, but I am not in any position to do so because of my own health issues. My father lives a few hours from me, but it is hard for me to drive long distances, and he and I haven’t been very close for many years. I can put aside differences to help someone, but the situations are challenging.
On a positive note, our five cats are doing very well. Blitzen, the baby, continues to grow, and her personality shines through the darkest of days. It has been one of the greatest experiences of my life to watch Blitzen grow and stay healthy since she was only two weeks old. When we first decided to bring the baby girl to our home, the Mama cat basically dropped her off because she needed help. Both of Blitzen’s eyes were infected, and when we tried returning her to the Mama cat, she would not take her and let her nurse. We knew Blitzen would not survive on her own, so we made the decision to care for her, bottle-feed her, and get her to eat on her own. Blitzen’s first visit to the veterinarian, she weighed only 0.7 pounds, but during her last visit, she weighed 2.7 pounds. Blitzen is a happy, loving, sweet, and growing baby girl, and we are delighted that we played a role in her survival. Even though life has not been easy, our five loving cats make life worth living!
Thank you for visiting my site today. I know most of what I have shared was not very optimistic, but life is not always filled with rainbows and sunshine. If something I have shared resonated with you, I would love to hear from you. Most of us have people we lean on for support, but sometimes a stranger can make a huge difference in our lives. As always, I look forward to reading your comments and will respond as quickly as possible. Please never forget I am always sending y’all LOTS of love
, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes
!
Always, Alyssa
Source: fightmsdaily.wordpress.com