Days 17/18

How are we more than halfway through November already??? Wow, time sure does fly. Today I’m doing days 17 and 18 of the RSD/CRPS Awareness Challenge!

Day 17: A picture of your hobbies

Some of my hobbies include baking, cooking, crafting (I’ve been sewing a lot of crutch covers lately), and writing. I also like to watch TV (especially Grey’s Anatomy and Ellen) ,read (when I have the attention span for it), and travel (when I’m healthy enough). I like to spend time with friends and family, but I also love having my own space. If I’m around people for too long then I start to become annoyed.

Day 18: A picture of you having fun despite RSD

Okay, this picture doesn’t include my face…but it shows one of the most beautiful places I’ve been. My family and I took a cruise to Alaska last year, which was tons of fun. It was challenging to be on a ship while using crutches and my wheelchair, but this excursion to the glacier was incredible. I try to make life fun, even with pain. That means going on vacation, working at drama camps, babysitting, being with friends and family, and enjoying my hobbies.

What are some of your hobbies? What do you do to keep your joy alive in the midst of pain? I’d love to hear from you!

Kitchen Therapy

Last night, I had some younger friends come over to bake with me. We were making a surprise a cake for the mom of one of the girls, which was a lot of fun. Once that task was completed, we used the extra cupcakes and frosting to have our own version of Cupcake Wars/Chopped. I was one of the judges so I didn’t participate in the making of the food, but it was still fun to watch. I loved teaching the girls how to use different tools in the kitchen, and their creativity was really great to see. In the end, the kitchen was a complete mess and my stomach was full from trying 12 different frosting creations, but we all had smiles on our faces, so it was worth it all.

Times like last night remind me of how much I love to be in the kitchen. When I’m chopping onions, slicing apples, or mixing up cake batter, every other concern goes out the window. Excitement brews as I anticipate the flavors that will soon be tasted and creations that will soon be made. I feel relaxed and my pain, while still there, doesn’t seem as horrible. When I’m cooking, I’m in a different world altogether, focused on the next steps in my recipes.

When I was first on crutches, cooking became more difficult. I didn’t like standing for so long or having to crutch around to get ingredients. Sure, it was still fun, but not as enjoyable. Not wanting to give up one of my favorite hobbies, I came up with a solution. I moved a stool from the counter into the cooking area, and now I happily hang my bad leg over the chair as I ditch the crutches and immerse myself in the flavors and aromas around me. I can move around on the stool to get what I need and sit on it when I’m tired. It’s the perfect solution, and now I can spend the whole day cooking without the annoyance of my pesky aluminum sidekicks.

I think it’s really important to find a hobby that you can really connect with. Something that creates more joy than the effort it may require. Something to look forward to; an activity that keeps you going. Whether it’s cooking, crafting, writing, singing, or any of the other infinite possibilities, hobbies make life with pain a bit easier. You may not be able to do everything that you did before the pain, but there are ways to modify your old hobbies or find new replacements for the activities you love.

Cooking. It’s cheaper than therapy and you get great food in the end. I’d say it’s a win-win 🙂

What are your favorite hobbies?