Homesteading and Chronic Illness

How do I homestead and balance 3 diagnosed chronic illnesses? Imperfectly!

Taught high standards and a hard work ethic as a child, letting go of perfection proved heartbreaking at times and freeing at others.

Homesteading lifestyle does not lend to ease and comfort on a regular basis. The rewards of opening a jar of home canned tomato juice, drinking my fill, savoring the flavor, while feeling thankful I know exactly what is in my healthy drink motivates me to take one job at a time.

Many steps and a bit of hard, uncomfortable work goes into the delicious drink I canned myself.  Planting seeds, weeding, watering as needed, picking tomatoes, and the work of actually processing and canning the juice.

Knowing the reward of healthy food options and a feeling of accomplishment for a job completed keeping me moving when my body aches, my head feels dizzy and I am simply tired.

There are days I need additional rest, days the best thing for me is to be up and moving however slow I may be.  There are days I feel like I used to. On those days I often become wonder woman for a few hours until reality catches up with me. 

Reality

Realty might hit me in the form of a low sugar, or becoming so tired I can. Not. Go. another step. It often appears to come on sudden, but in truth many times I am busy celebrating all I am accomplishing. I miss the signs, or I ignore the tiredness lurking because my focus keeps them at bay. Reality might be a high sugar level for unknown reasons requiring me to rest or extra sleep.

Reality means I do not have the same number of hours available for hard work I used to have. In certain moments it means pushing myself because when caring for animals and raising your own food there are windows of time where tasks must be completed.  A time for extra rest will be required for sure when the work is done.

The Hardest Part

The hardest part for me has been letting of my high expectations for outcomes of all I do.  One of the good parts? Learning to see and act on what is important on any given day. What has to be done today? Resting when it is done. 

I might be a workaholic if my health allowed. If you ask my spouse, I am any way. I may need to take breaks before a task is finished or leave things I want done today, for tomorrow. 

A New Direction

The idea of writing and running a website was born only after I realized I could no longer work as hard as I used to.  To my belief my number one asset I brought to a job, was my physical strength and stamina. It sent me for a loop when I realized I could not longer push through anything I choose to.

The realization came on over a period of a week or two. I was working at a factory learning a job I would have not had a problem with in the past. Sanding a trailer should not have been out of my range of capability.  Instead, I learned I had contracted mono.  I was let go from my job with the understanding I had the option to return when (if) my health allowed. 

I did not return. Six years later, I do not believe myself capable of doing the work. 

Blooms from Ashes

Roses will bloom again, Just wait and see, Don’t mourn what might have been, Only God knows how and when, but roses will bloom again.

~ chorus of song ‘Roses Will Bloom Again’ by Bill Gaither

Recently, I was reminded how events look terrible to us at the time, actually open doors for opportunities we would have never looked for. Loosing my job pointed me in a new direction. I felt lost , my pride wounded. I carried (from God) a belief blooms rise from ashes and good awaited me down the road. 

The road meandered slowly bringing me to my current life.  I did not immediately decide to start a website or homestead. Such ideas came along over the coming year and a half. Implementation itself continues to this day.

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I write to share my journey and knowledge. I homestead to produce more of my own food. I continue to learn how to improve my writing, homestead skills, and earn a bit of money along the way. I strive to keep the genetics of 3 heritage chicken breeds alive. In my newest venture, I am learning about the Great Pyrenees dog breed as I train a puppy. 

I may be slower these days, but I still find joy in a new challenge. Blogging, homesteading, and creating provide me with ways stimulate a desire to see what lies around the next bend.  I have a couple ideas up my sleeve for the remainder of 2020.  Stick around to find out what they are.

Are you living life with a chronic illness or two? How do you make the most of your life?