Category: chronic illness living

June 5, 2023

What fears have you overcome and how?

That’s a very good question. My answer is battling the fear of perfection because we live in a society where everything has to be perfect according to the culture. Here are some examples: the perfect home, the perfect relationship, the perfect family, the perfect pet, and the perfect career.

I believe the fear comes from realizing that you cannot meet that expectation of having the perfect life. Homes will be messy, relationships, require work, careers, have up and downs, and pets, grow old and start having health issues.

Once I realized that perfection is a lie created to sell products or pushing a narrative about issues. I started seeing my life in a different perspective and realized I don’t have to be perfect. I just need to do things to the best of my ability.

28 May 2023

Where I have been?

I been dealing with flare-ups, it is time for me to change my medications.

My chores are increasing since the warmer weather has arrived. I’m still recovering from surgery, and my body reminds me I’m still healing.

I’m also working on several writing projects that have been taking up my time, and I have been working on my music again. It is nice to sit in my chair for a longer period of time.

Not Flawed (May 8, 2023)

The one piece of advice that I would give my 20-year-old self is to learn to love your space despite your circumstances. As I mentioned in my recent podcast on May 7 of 2023 that I didn’t love my space.

It didn’t help ADHD/ADD was affecting my organizational skills. People made judgments saying I was lazy, and I didn’t care. Dealing with RA (rheumatoid arthritis) flared up that almost crippled me. So, I had a lot of resentment towards my space because I thought there was a major flaw with me.

The never-ending cycle of purging items, which I thought was cleaning. Then in a few weeks, the cluttered would return, adding to my resentment.

I didn’t understand was how the RA was impacting my life during a flare-up. Just doing the necessary chores, that was it. What I needed in those times was help and compassion.

Instead, I blamed myself for circumstances that were out of my control. Resentment continued to build towards my space as hopelessness settled in.

I wasn’t flawed.

I had the wrong ideas about clutter and organization.

Then one day, I realized that people who had organized homes and kept them maintained; actually, loved the space that they lived in and wanted the best for them and their families.

By loving my space that I admitted I deserved a clean, welcoming environment, and a peaceful sanctuary from the rest of the world. And that I needed to create a system that functioned for my lifestyle.

 

Sunday Talk with Alexandra Mars (May 7, 2023)

I will be discussing my recovery from my surgery, and how iron deficiency anemia, is affecting my life. In the second segment, I will be discussing organizational skills. And how ADHD affects those skills, and the impacts on my life.

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/Sunday-Talk-with-Alexandra-Mars-May-7–2023-e23jhsh

April 30, 2023

Check out my recent podcast shorts!

There is no regular podcast for this week, and I’m in the process of working on a new episode. In the meantime, here are some recent short podcasts and two short stories podcasts that are available.

My podcast for April 4, 2023, where I discuss my writing and editing. Here’s the link below:

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/April-4–2023-e22agkb

My podcast for April 12, 20#3, where I discuss my exercise routine and why it is important. Here’s the link below:

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/April-12–2023-e22agkc

My podcast for April 18, 2023, where I discuss dealing with paper clutter. Here’s the link below:

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/April-18–2023-e238s4a

THE STORIES PODCASTS

A 100 words short story called THE DECISION

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/A-short-story-The-Decision-podcast-shorts-e1tast1

Here is a short story called SPOOKY LANE.

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/alexandra-mars1/episodes/Spooky-Lane-a-short-story-er4fqh/a-a4p6k69

April 18, 2023

Today, I am tackling paper clutter! It is exhausting. For the last few weeks, I have been drowning in paper clutter. Needing a break, I decided to write this post because my mind needs to relax. I’m proud of myself for the that I am making.

Something, I have noticed is that paper clutter quickly piles up in my home. My ADD kicks in and I procrastinate, I just don’t want to deal with it. Then the paper clutter continues to build. It never ends.

Today, I had enough. I need my space, and I need the clutter to be gone. That’s my motivation.

I need to get back to it!

April 12, 2023

What’s the most fun way to exercise?

Since I have RA (rheumatoid arthritis) exercise is a good way for me to maintain my mobility. Walking is the best way for me to get in my steps but, it can be boring at times. That’s when I get out the Nintendo WII board makes exercising fun for me and is a great way to get in my steps.

The WII board provides me where I can exercise at home, especially in the winter months can be cold and snowy. Also, there is a nice variety of games to choose from that I can play too.

Having an exercise routine that is a low impact on my joints helps me to keep my independence and keeps my joints moving. Not only, do I battle fatigue, but being sedentary. Exercising keeps me moving and healthy too.

March 21, 2023

Here’s the link below:

https://anchor.fm/alexandra-mars1/episodes/March-21–2023-e22agk9

I’m recovering from my surgery, and taking it easy. I still have restrictions; I get tired easily, and my bed has become my best friend. Just taking it one day at a time, I’m heading into my new chapter of life.

Working on making adjustments to my routines because I have a weight limit for lifting items. Yesterday, I overdid it, but it felt great to be useful again. Today, I am paying the price, and I will just relax and have some fun.

This week I feel more like writing and editing, I am going to edit a couple of chapters of my manuscript since I can sit a lot longer. My pelvic pain was interfering with my life, I could sit only for a short time. Now, I am looking forward to editing my manuscript.

The other day, I was looking at the last chapter that I was working on, and I wanted to get a feel of my story again. Due to the pain, I stopped editing. Now, my body is ready to work on it again and I want to see how my manuscript turns out.