The Queen of Optimism

For now, I’m doing my best to stay flu-free.  Well, I take that back.  If I was doing my best, I’d probably be isolated but I am carrying around cleansing wipes and have received my regular flu shot.

Nearly two weeks post-op, my left ear still has pain.  I’ve got a few more days on the super antibiotic drops that do help with pain, so we’ll see how it goes.

As far as my other problems, I still have reduced left foot dorsiflexion that worsens with activity.  At times, I have joint pain in my fingers/hands and find it hard to do tasks that require strength and accuracy in those areas.

I reflect back the changes that have occurred over the past year.  It was nearly a year ago that I found out my thyroid had again grown sluggish and I began receiving treatment for hypothyroidism.   Like the old adage, I’ve taken some steps forward, and some back.  I am counting on moving forward with the help of my PCP and ENT who will work together to find the right person to address my atrophy and limited dorsiflexion.  I’m also counting on them to look into the globulin problem I had as a child that was never addressed.  Perhaps there’s a connection.  If it wasn’t for this blog, I may never have given that a second thought.  Writing here helps me reflect and recall.

This month, I am doing something for me. For my personal growth and development.

The month of November offers a plethora of group writing projects.  From 30 days of daily blog posting to playwriting.  I chose to participate in the original – NaNoWriMo.

The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.  I could list at least a few dozen reasons why it is ridiculous for me to attempt this task.  I’ve known about NaNoWriMo for about four or five years and it was only this year that I even considered it.  I’ve challenged my husband, who is an artist, to join me.  He has signed up, too.

I’m not one for fiction.  It’s odd, mostly.  I mean, it’s odd that I have no interest in fiction. I have trouble wrapping my mind around fantasy.  The grossly improbable.  The far-out.  It’s just not me.

So what in the world would make me interested in writing a novel?

The challenge.  Writing a novel is so far from who I am.  I don’t make stuff.  I’m not creative.  I’m no artist.  Hell, I make my living doing technical writing.  In other words, I get paid to follow directions.   I have no aspirations of writing the Great American Novel.  I’m doing art for art’s sake.  Something I have never done before.

The idea of doing art for art’s sake that does not require me to walk into an art supply store sold me.

As provided by Chris Baty, the founder of National Novel Writing Month:

“Art for art’s sake does wonderful things to you. It makes you laugh. It makes you cry. It makes you want to take naps and go places wearing funny pants. Doing something just for the hell of it is a wonderful antidote to all the chores and “must-dos” of daily life. Writing a novel in a month is both exhilarating and stupid, and we would all do well to invite a little more spontaneous stupidity into our lives.”

Yes!

I wish for you that you find an antidote to the must-dos of your life.

I’m always very interested in what you have to say.  Please comment.

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | chronic illness, NaNoWriMo