Making peace with solitude becomes an integral part of making peace with chronic illness. With illnesses such as Chronic Fatigue syndrome, Fibromyalgia and MS, in which both physical and cognitive exertion can cause symptoms to flare, the distractions of doing or putting our mind to something have to be set aside. Both CFS, MS and Myasthenia Gravis (a Neuromuscular condition) can effect the eyes to where reading and even watching tv are impossible. What is left is “being”, resting our bodies, curling up with our thoughts, our feelings, our souls.
On Friday’s I like to share quotes or poems that I hope affirm or inspire us in our journey with chronic illness. Today I share the wisdom of Thomas Merton and a bit of humor from Sidonie Gabrielle Colette (because making peace with solitude does not always come easily.)
“It is useless to try to make peace with ourselves by being pleased with everything we have done. In order to settle down in the quiet of our own being we must learn to be detached from the results of our own activity. We must withdraw ourselves, to some extent, from effects that are beyond our control and be content with the good will and the work that are the quiet expression of our inner life. We must be content to live without watching ourselves live, to work without expecting an immediate reward, to love without an instantaneous satisfaction, and to exist without any special recognition. ” – from No Man is an Island, Thomas Merton
“There are days when solitude is a heady wine that intoxicates you with freedom, others when it is a bitter tonic, and others when it is a poison that makes you beat your head against the wall” –Sidonie Gabrielle Colette
Happy Friday! And for you who find yourself in solitudes company this weekend, may it be a peaceful companion. Kerry
Aloha Kerry, I’m so happy we’ve found each other. I love your blog! It’s so heartfelt. I look forward to sharing experiences and ideas back and forth with you.
Thank you Susie! I’m very excited about finding your MCS blog, as well as a fellow “Canary”. (For years I searched on line for MCS web-sites, for both information and support. Their was little to be found.) Your site is filled with the latest research, articles and information within your warm supportive blog. Wonderful. (Readers, Susie’s blog is “The Canary Report” listed in my blogroll.)
I look forward to sharing with you Susie and also to sharing about MCS here-I’m realizing I haven’t posted about it yet. I hope to soon as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity accompanies many chronic illnesses (as it does mine)and has a powerful impact on our daily lives.
There’s more and more on the web about MCS, it’s great to see. Also, so much more research being done about toxic chemicals. I wanted to create a blog that had the science, but was inviting and fun, too, with practical info. Not sure if I am there yet but it’s a work in progress!
MCS can be so confusing b/c it’s not recognized by most mainstream medical providers. I want to help with awareness and help people not feel alone and isolated with it. Also, I think there might be a lot of people with MCS who don’t realize what’s making them feel sick (everyday synthetic chemicals in the house and at work)– a big question for me is: how to find them?
I come to your blog to get my dose of sweet. Plus you got me with the Colette quotation.
Nice way to start off the weekend, something to ponder for a few days. Just what I like. Thanks for mentioning Myasthenia Gravis which is very rare and often unknown even to the medical community.
I’ve given you a blog award because you have become one of my favorite reads. Come by and pick it up.
I just realized that I left the link to my other blog, sorry. This is the blog where your award is located.
Have been behind with reading your blog. Now is the first time in almost a month that I am finally here. Believe you know how that can happen.
Want to thank you for sharing great thinker’s thoughts. Gives those of us in solitude something to ponder, to see how it or if it fits in our life. Having trouble reading, a side effect of chronic illness, I appreciate it very much.
It is an opportunity to look inside and grow. The one place that chronic illness has no ill effect.
Working on making peace with self has made living with chronic illness a tool for further inner growth. It has allowed me the opportunity to meet people, I would never otherwise met, whose life experiences have taught me and triggered more inner growth.
Again, thank you for sharing.
Love,
Arlene