#1daywithoutpain

The dream of #1daywithoutpain is something that I have been thinking a lot about lately.  The recent warm weather, Hubs’ busy wedding schedule (he’s a photographer) and the school holidays have led to my MS symptoms flaring up big time – spasticity, fatigue, weakness.  I’ve been thinking a lot about how things used to be and, I admit it, how much I feel that I am missing out due to my health.

I first became aware of the hashtag #1daywithoutpain after reading this brilliant blog post by fellow chronic illness blogger SpoonieMom at A Spoonie’s Tale.   Genevieve, from  Ship With No Sails, started the discussion (her thought provoking blog post is here).  I hope that by blogging what I would do with my one day I will encourage other bloggers to do the same – raising awareness of the struggles that chronically ill people encounter on a day to day basis.  So, here goes!

I would hop out of bed feeling wide awake after a refreshing sleep, and go for a run.  I would relish  the feel of my heart pumping, getting out of breath through exercise.  Then I would have a shower as hot a temperature as I like, as the heat wouldn’t trigger my symptoms to flare.  I’d spend the day with Hubs and the kids out somewhere – maybe a country park where we could walk for ages, running around after the kids, or a trampoline centre, or Centre Parcs, going on bike rides and swimming in the leisure pool and climbing up to the slides.  Night time would be a meal out with Hubs, eating whatever I fancy, not worrying about the negative effect it could be having on my health.  I’d be wearing the heels that I haven’t been able to wear for the past 5 years due to the weakness in my legs and I would put them to good use by dancing into the small hours, until my legs ached. 

You see, part of me wants to say that I would do something mega exciting, like running a marathon, or travelling to Manchu Picchu, but really I just want to do normal things.   Things that I didn’t appreciate when I had the chance.  I even dream of being able to clean the house from top to bottom!

So, what would you do?  I would love to hear.  Let’s keep this discussion going, using the hashtag #1daywithoutpain to help people better understand the everyday struggles that those of us living with chronic illness and pain face.

Dreams