heathber

Hang in there. You will feel much better soon. In the mean time retreat into blankets, hot packs and soup by the fire.  If you give in and embrace the experience it passes much quicker.

Asha, too much advice feels like nagging and judgment to the receiver, especially if they have not asked for advice, you can easily push them away by doing this. You need to have faith in them and your parenting, if you’ve done your job right they will have good grounding and knowledge to make their choices. And remember what is right for them is not always what you would like or choose for yourself. Trust them to be their own best self, and make sure that they know you will always be there to help if/when things don’t work out as they hoped or planned.

The old adage is true in this case “if you love something let it go, if it comes back it’s yours, if it doesn’t it never was”

Hi Tracy, all good with me. I’ve moved out of the city to my family’s. property in the country. So many people have discovered they can live regionally since the worst of the pandemic. I still go into town for a couple of days a week. I go into the office for 1 day and I go to physio at the hospital and have my in home yoga session. But mostly I’m in the country with the nearest village 6 km away and the local town 25 minutes drive in the other direction. Mum and Dad live in the village which means I can help them when needed and vice versa. The property I live on is a large forest block with a conservation covenant so lots of wild birds and animals, very grounding and relaxing. Before Covid I used to spend 1 or 2 weekends here a month, but the idea that I could be here nearly fulltime never really crossed my mind.

What great news Tracy. Its a journey but you’re winning. I recommend yin yoga as a way to spend some quality time listening to your body and clearing your mind. It also doesn’t need balance or super dexterity. I have an in home teacher, but during lockdowns I used online resources.

You are very disciplined if you manage to meditate on your own every weekend. I have a weekly private yoga session where an instructor comes to me and we work on various stretches, proprioception and muscle control exercises. we usually finish with a 10 - 15 minute guided meditation which is great but I'm not good at repeating the meditation session on my own later in the week, even though I understand the benefit.

Hi Asha, Sorry you couldn't find it but not very surprised its a new publication here in Australia so probably hasn't made it across to you yet. I only found out about it from a local radio interview with the author. It's not in our libraries yet either. I bought it as an ebook from a local ebook distributor.

I think this is the US Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-Path-Indigenous-Thinking-Change-ebook/dp/B09F696S1H

Hi Asha, I've just started reading The Dreaming Path by Paul Callaghan. As someone who is open to alternative ways of looking at spirituality and living life it may be of interest to you. Ive no idea if it's available in the US yet. Paul is a first nations man and he's written the book in conjunction with his Elders to help explain their life philosophy to others. It's written as story, story is how knowledge is transferred from generation to generation by our first peoples. I guess similar to the hindu bhagvad geeta, but would be interested to hear your thoughts on it.

Heather

Yes very true Asha, if it's raining on your picnic it is hard not to feel that that is bad, but the veg grower next to the park needs that rain for his produce and you want his veg to grow so you can eat them later.  So it's pointless feeling that the rain is "bad". Just remember that singing in the rain can be fun if that's how you approach it, and so long as you have warm dry clothes for afterward you can just enjoy the rain.  Although the people north of me might find that a bit hard right now as the floods are getting very big. The reality of life is that there is only really right now, this moment, so you need to feel the joy of being here right now.

I agree with you about mingling. I understand why the government wants us to forget about it and "go back to normal" but I think I'm not quite ready for that yet either. for the moment I'm still wearing the mask especially in places like shops. Do what's right for you and ignore those who think we are crazy.

I hope you don’t get washed out to sea. Good luck with getting drains sorted out. 

Banjo this is Australia during climate change, Summer doesn’t end until April.

Hi Sue I have many cruising friends in America and they have started going back to travelling on the ships. Cruise ships have always been a virus risk, I was on one where norovirus went through and it was not pleasant, but they also are aware of the risks and are pretty good at onboard virus management most of the time. In some ways a cruise ship is both the best and worst place to be when it comes to viruses. (they are really good at surface transmission management but not setup for airborne virus management. I'm not sure I could/would be happy with an inside cabin these days as ventilation is the key with covid and I would want to be able to control that. I've booked myself on a Fiji island cruise in September and am now crossing my fingers that it can go ahead OK.  

mild is a relative term it can still make you extremely ill and even kill you, but vaccination is reducing the severity of it for most people, but yes those of us with already compromised systems are much more at risk from it.  Be careful and do what is right for you.

So glad to hear something can actually be done, but so often we need to force doctors to see what they are actually asking us to do.

A few years back now I badly cut one of the fingers of my usable hand and thank goodness my sister was with me at the ER and was able to make the Doctor understand that " keep the hand/finger dry for 2 - 3 weeks" was not going to be practical.  

best wishes and hugs for a good result from the surgery.

Hi Janelle yes your water balance changes significantly after brain injury. I had a great teacher during my in house rehab. Wayne was determined that all of us would at least be water safe and able to swim short distances.  He ran the hydro therapy sessions as well as the disabled gym. As I had been a scuba diver he made me do lots of floating, turning and somersaults during my hydro sessions as well as just swimming and my learning to walk drills.  It meant when I started the surfing I was a lot more confident.  But then I've also always been a water baby.

And you'd be amazed at the surfing volunteers they carry people out who you would think are way too heavy.

I think I would have had that same reaction if I hadn't known there was literally a team of people waiting to catch me.  not to mention a very big foam surfboard. Participants get setup on the surf board on the beach and then about 15 people carry you and the board out into the water and they take you out to about chest deep and then one of your helpers gets ob the back part of the board and kicks like mad to catch a wave while the rest of the team makes a funnel back to the beach. I usually fall off in about knee deep water and they grab me and lift me up ready to start again.

But yes if I didn't have that I'd be opting for the chair at ankle deep too.

Nicely put Tracy, I agree 100%

Yep walking on sand is an art form post stroke.  I have been going to disabled surfing days for the last few years. The first time I went it was very scary and I needed the helper who walked with me down to the wet sand and the surf. The good thing about disabled surfing days is they have volunteers to help with this sort of thing as well as the beach wheelchairs if you need them.  The next year I had a helper with me but I didn't really lean on them, and then the last time I walked across the sand fully independently. It's much harder on the way back up. Walking on the sand and being in the surf is hard on the brain and stabiliser muscles, but it is so great to be out there in the water and get rolled by a wave when you know there is a team of people ready to pull you up/out if necessary. When it happens I get that happy happy laugh, and the volunteers do too once they realise I'm thoroughly enjoying being dumped by a wave.

Ouch that sound nasty. If inserting a catheter hurts can he get a permanent catheter inserted? I'm assuming a condom catheter won't help as the problem is he can't pee voluntarily so the cath needs to get behind the sphincter.  if he can't or won't take pills by mouth, would the suspensions they use for little kids help?  Of course you've probably already been through all of this and here I am offering possible solutions when you just needed to scream.

So HUGS and yes you are heard. Hang in there and try not to slap him 🙂

nothing wrong with dancing in your heart, or in being there for the ones who can still get up there and strut their stuff.  The world is full of stuff that reminds us of better or at least different times. Enjoy the music and dance on the inside, or bop along in your chair. If you avoid everything that might upset you life will get very boring and very long.

Enjoy what you can do, and try not to dwell on the can'ts

((HUGS))

Very true Nancy, you have to keep smiling the alternative is too hard to live with. Enjoy what you have and try not to dwell on the might have beens. Glad Dan is feeling better, tummy bugs are no fun when you can't run easily (they aren't much fun when you can either 🙂 )

Yep same here in country Vic Sue. Be as safe as you can, and hope others do to. Very aware that being vaccinated doesn't stop you getting it or passing it on, just slows it down a bit, and means you probably won't end up in hospital.  Even with 70-80% vaccinated it could be very bad for our hospitals and health care workers.  At least our governments are now recognising that it can only be managed not eliminated. But sad that I won't get to have my trip to WA in November (no way they'll have their vaccination rates high enough to open borders before I'm due to leave.)

yes, I know the areas worst hit here in Vic have the same thing. Multi generational homes with kids, adults and grandparents all living together under the same roof, and if not the same house a group of houses very close by.  Also usually the adults in these homes are working multiple jobs to make ends meet. It's very hard to stop any germ from spreading in such circumstances but delta thinks it's great.

yep I think that happens a lot these days, no matter where you're from

fingers crossed the guy gets what he really deserves

fingers crossed Sue.

Hi Will it sounds like a good move. I hope the new place is filled with good times.

I Totally understand that Sue. I wish I could offer something better. Try to keep positive, although that's hard when you see the cases rising every day. and the government not getting on top of it. You do your bit, and hope other people do too.