So Many Dishes

I thought about passing on this prompt, but it’s been rattling about in my head all day, so I figured I needed to organize my thoughts and share them.

Last year, I couldn’t look ahead more than one day at a time. Ken was dealing with a medical issue that, while not life-threatening, was severely affecting his quality of life. We were floundering, trying to get a definitive diagnosis and some sort of treatment that would relieve his pain.

So I didn’t look ahead. I took things day by day, sometimes hour by hour. I leaned into the support of dear friends. I walked, I read a lot, I threw myself into craft projects to try to protect my mental health. But it was a battle, because there didn’t appear to be any end to the situation.

Fortunately, through Ken’s research, we found a wellness practice that deals with people with conditions like his. It was our first lifeline, because they supported both of us. Obviously, he was the one receiving therapy, but their concern and support included me. And, finally, Ken got to a doctor who definitively diagnosed and treated the problem. Today, although he’s not completely pain free, he’s able to live normally. There doesn’t seem to be any activity he can’t do.

A year ago, could I have pictured that life would be back to normal? No. Am I glad it is? Absolutely! Seeing Ken active and happy fills me with so much joy. I laugh to see how excited he is about Christmas this year, when he couldn’t enjoy it at all last year. Nor do I take any of this for granted; my fall a few weeks ago was a reminder in that regard.

I guess the question is, do I have a picture of life a year from now? Am I going to set goals for the coming year? The answer is, not really. Oh, I’ll set some aspirational goals, like how many books I want to read or how much weight I’d like to lose. But do they matter? No. What matters is living the best life I can each day.