So, I was ‘voluntold’ yesterday by my youngest that ‘we’ were providing the vegan gingerbread house kit for her and a friend for the class contest on Friday. Ummm… okay? 🤣
I love that she knows I love to bake so assumed I’d be happy to do it. Happier that it doesn’t occur to her that I’m carefully pacing myself at the moment so I can make it through the holidays without the MonSter rearing it’s ugly head too far. One of the perks of an invisible illness when it comes to your kids, at least when you can…
But it’s always smart to remind yourself, chronic illness or not, that it’s not worth pushing beyond your limits. Everyone owes it to themselves to take time for self-care, to take things off their plate when necessary and to ask for help sometimes.
The whole season should be about being cozy and spending low-key personal time with your people. Let go of the consumer, commercial side of it and focus on what matters. You can only do what you can do, and good enough is good enough. Otherwise, you…
The best thing I’ve started doing since I finally got decent running shoes is getting my butt out the door every weekday for a 20 minute walk. Sometimes it’s a few minutes more, but never too much because in the past I would get back into ballet or yoga and go too hard, setting myself back several steps. So now I’m the tortoise not the hare, and I find I look forward to my walk each day and it sets me up well for the day ahead. There are days when 20 minutes doesn’t get me too far…
But I’ve only missed one day, when the wind was too much for my sensory issues, and then the last couple of days when I needed to brave the crowds to finish the Christmas shopping. Now I will get out there every day if possible because I know it’s the single best thing I can do to make it through our busiest Christmas season ever, and enjoy it.
Finally, chronic illness or not…
Depending on how things go, I may post one more time about the vegan gingerbread house. If it’s a total fail, maybe not, so…
Wishing you all a restful, joyous holiday and a healthy, peaceful New Year.
❤️ Amanda
Walk a Myelin* My Shoes 
Super Mummy !💖💖💖💖💖
Sent from my iPad
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😘💕
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Wishing you strength and joy ❤️
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Right back at you, Elaine! 💕😊
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Agree completely–on all points.
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Thanks. Merry Christmas! 💕
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A beautiful post, Amanda. And I love the end point – kindness is free, afterall!
I needed to read this today. I’ve been so wrapped up in stress and worries and haven’t slowed to appreciate the ‘festive spirit’ at all, and it’s such a shame because too many of us get this way. It’s bad enough dealing with chronic illness and pain without adding Christmas stress and all other life stress and money worries on top. We need to remember what’s important to us and let go of the other stuff a little. xx
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Thanks Caz. I hope you take time to slow down, reflect and look after yourself. Wishing you the merriest of holidays! 💕
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I look forward to a similar walk each day. Even that peaceful walk wouldn’t give me the patience to tackle a gingerbread house, let alone a vegan one, so I hope it went well. ❤ Merry Christmas to you and yours.
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Thanks Erin. It was surprisingly easy – 7 ingredients!! Merry Christmas to you too! 💕
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Boy can I relate to this post! The kids were always surprising me with concerts to attend when I had little energy and no time to spare. 12-year old kids singing while I have a migraine? That headache was so bad I still remember it. I’m so relieved the kids have all left home. It is so much easier to manage my time. But, of course, I miss them. But they are independent adults and that is something to be proud of.
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Thanks for your comment! Sorry, I’ve been taking a break from social media and haven’t even looked at my blog for ages. Baby steps back into the WordPress world. I hope your new year/decade is off to a great start! 😊
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