After my previous maudlin blog post, I had a lovely email from a friend.
In short, she told me I wasn’t at all boring, and in fact quite interesting, and I really should write a post about some not-so-boring stuff I have done, just to even things out.
So here goes:
- On a visit to Scotland, I went to the travel agent to book ferry tickets to Skye. Instead, I booked flights to The Gambia and was on the beach 24 hours later.
- I moved from Austria to New York on a whim. I had a ball.
- I can burp the entire alphabet. Ewww.
- I met Al Pacino once. He was a bit grumpy.
- I used to speak fluent Norwegian and German.
It’s early, so I can’t think of any more things right now, but it’s given me food for thought. I am definitely my own worst critic and don’t give myself the easiest time.
To be fair, the combination of MS and bullying/sacking from work hasn’t helped. But, as I came to realise a while back, it’s not only about what happens to you, it’s about how you react to it. I also have a lot to be grateful for – a healthy son, a wonderful family, great friends.
If I had a friend who constantly belittled and criticised me and sneered at every effort I made to improve my life, I’d get rid of them. So why do I do this to myself? If you can’t be friends with yourself, how can you expect other people to take you seriously?
On a more positive note, all this naval-gazing over the last couple of years has been a tremendous opportunity to totally re-evaluate my life, shake it down from top to bottom. It’s a unique chance to start afresh, so why squander the chance? We have to make MS work for us if we are to live in peace with it.
So. I am going to stop whingeing, stop analysing every single thing to death and lift my head above the parapet. It’s time to have more fun. And with that in mind, I’m off to get ready for work. My job has been the best therapy ever. Working with a bunch of men who refuse to let me take myself seriously has been a brilliant tonic.
No more pity-parties…
boring! you having a laff? i would NEVER do any of those things myself. always thinking … yeah one day, but never following it up. you have a healthy British sense of humour which i share – self deprocating. i miss working with guys too as we always look for weaknesses to rip into eachother at any opportunity. x
Aw bless, thank you!!
You’re right, us Brits are very, very self-deprecating. And yes, working with blokes is brilliant. I absolutely love it. Nothing like the office politics I used to put up with and totally not understand how to play the game. With the guys, we just josh around all day long. It’s refreshing!
x
such as not being able to spell!
thank god for spell check…
x
Okay first of all, your writing does NOT represent a boring person. I am drawn to your blog through your words and always read your posts. I love your humor and your frankness. Your words have shown you to be a strong, persevering woman, a great and caring mom, and someone who can describe well your struggles with illness. Second, I sure hope you will tell more about each of the exciting things you listed. I look forward to reading about them!
That’s such a kind thing to say, thank you!
I always wanted to write a rounded-blog about life with MS – neither too positive nor too negative – just real life I guess. Looking back to when I first started in September 2012, the blog has been a long, long journey from the shock of the diagnosis right through to creating a new life for me and The Teenager.
Hopefully with plenty of laughs along the way!
X
Stumbling, I can SO relate. Not sure why I am my own worse enemy but I always have been! When I take the time to stop and look at my life I see all the wonderful people who are good to me on a daily basis. Like you said, if I’m so horrible why are all these people still here? I have lived a very boring life, but that’s ok. I make my friends laugh ( with me, hopefully ) and I still can laugh at myself on an almost daily basis. Who can ask for more? Well, actually, I can, but that’s a whole other comment!! Stay well! Karen
Glad to hear I’m not the only one!! You do sound like me – our own worst enemies. Honestly, if my best friend said to me half the things I say to myself, I’d have kicked them to the kerb long ago!
x
SIF, let’s not be hasty…you may, indeed, BE a crashing bore.
It will take a video clip of you burping the alphabet to be sure you are not. Please post at once.
Haha! I said this to The Teenager and he made me promise on pain of death that I wouldn’t do that….
x