Tag Archives: wish

Ringing in the New Year

01 Tuesday Jan 2019

Posted by in bipolar, caregivers, hope, mental illness, schizophrenia, Uncategorized

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My husband and I were flipping through New Year’s Eve shows last night, and we missed the ball dropping in New York because at that very moment we were reading my blood pressure and pulse because the doctor asked me to monitor my numbers at home. (My anxiety disorder is on full display whenever I visit the doctor’s office, and my pulse usually registers somewhere around 120 plus so I was asked to take my vitals at home to make sure that I wasn’t always running that high).

The good news is that at midnight, East Coast time as the ball was dropping my blood pressure was 117 over 72, and my pulse rate was 75. Those are great numbers for me. That is the lowest I can remember my pulse being since I started monitoring it.

If I were superstitious, I would be concerned about the meaning of missing a New Year’s Eve tradition because I was monitoring my vitals, worrying a little bit about the quality of my health for the next year. I’m not superstitious though, but I do try to think positively and choose to see it that health will be a priority for me in 2019. I wish I could say that wellness will be the benefit and result of my efforts, but as all of us with chronic illness know too well is that even our best efforts are no guarantee of a good or great outcome.

I will say that it’s not just my blood pressure and pulse that I hope remain in healthy territory this year. I hope this is a year of health for all of us – you as well as me. You as well. Me as well. Try reading those last two statements again. They have a nice healthy ring to them, don’t they?

Happy Happy New Year!

 

Make A Wish

04 Friday Mar 2016

Posted by in hope, mental illness, schizophrenia, Uncategorized, writing

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Things that seem small can have an impact on all of us. Doing small things with a big and open heart can change the world.

On our recent trip to Seattle, we were introduced to the Wishing Tree.   We talked to the couple that started the tree and it was inspirational to hear how this simple concept has changed and enriched their lives.

Every day people write their wishes, hopes, dreams, and things they are grateful for on index cards and then leave the card in a jar by the Wishing Tree. At night, the cards are removed from the jar, laminated and strung with ribbon from the pipes that hang from the Wishing Tree.

The couple that has the tree on their property said the tree has helped bring their community together. They also said that reading the cards put their lives into perspective and helps keep them balanced and humble.

We read some of the wishes on the tree. People wish for health, peace, love, luck, and everything else you can imagine. Some wishes are heartfelt and deep while others are more light-hearted and playful.

One thing about living as someone with schizophrenia is I always want to give people hope. I want people to believe that things can get better, that a new treatment might be right around the corner, that the voices or symptoms will stop, or even the hope that there may someday be a cure for those of us who struggle with a mental illness.

You may be wishing for a partner. You may be wishing for a medication that works. You may be wishing for a job. You may be wishing for relief from symptoms. You may be wishing for a friend. Whatever it is you are wish for, my dream for you is that you find it.

You don’t have to travel to Seattle for your wishes to be known by others, you can leave them here if you want to, or you can write them on a piece of paper and pin them to a bulletin board.

I hope we can all create something like the Wishing Tree that makes a difference in the lives of those who encounter it. There are so many ways to brighten another person’s life – let’s find those ways and get to work building a better life for all of us.

 

About The Lottery

09 Saturday Jan 2016

Posted by in Uncategorized, writing

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Tonight’s lottery is 800 million dollars. My husband and I don’t play the lottery on a regular basis, but occasionally we will buy tickets so we can dream about what we would do with the money if we were to win. We have always said it is worth a buck or two just to talk about those dreams.

Yesterday was different, though. We bought four tickets, and when we started talking about it, we got a little scared. One of us asked, “Would we be the same people we are now if we won 800 million dollars?”

“No.” My husband said.

“What would we be like?” I asked.

“I’m not sure, but we wouldn’t be the same,” he said.

“What if we started fighting and wanted a divorce?” I asked.

“I don’t think we would fight over money. We have never fought over money.” He said.

“What if we fought over other things like projects, or who to help out?” I asked.

“800 million is too much. Going forward, we are only going to play the lotteries with 1-8 million dollars as a prize.” He said.

I realized while we were talking that I already won the lottery. I have my health, and it isn’t perfect, but it is fairly decent. My husband has an autoimmune disease that seems to be stable (so he is relatively healthy). I have a wonderful husband. We have access to healthcare. We have a savings account. My husband has a job. We are both educated. There is always more than enough to eat. We have a warm condo in the winter and cool condo in the summer. We live with many freedoms. We laugh every single day. We rarely argue or even disagree. We have a good group of friends. I could go on and on.

If we won 800 million dollars, I don’t know if we would still be happy, or grateful, or if the issues that kind of money brought would quiet our daily laughter.

I still have the four tickets, but I don’t think winning that money would be the best thing that could happen to me. I love my life now. Winning enough money for my husband to retire would be a dream come true, but winning 800 million may decrease my joy instead of enhancing it. With that much money, you have to consider what you might lose instead of what you might win.