Hello and welcome to the home of Word of the Week. A nice and simple weekly linky, with everyone welcome to pop by and share. The idea of the linky is to reflect back on your past week and share it with us. It’s great if you can sum it up in a word or phrase, hence giving us your Word of the Week. My word this week is lifted and you can read more about that below.
I’m not totally strict on using just a word or phrase. But please try to stick to the theme of summing up your week.
There are not too many rules with this linky, just remember to read at least another couple of posts in the link up after adding your link. I will read and comment on all posts and tweet them out for you. I also have a Pinterest boarddevoted to Word of the Week and I will add posts to MixPlease add the badge below to your post so that others may find us and join in. If you comment or tweet then please use the hashtag #WotW
Word of the Week is open from 6am on Friday Morning to 12 noon on Monday. Plenty of time to join in!
If you are unfamiliar with the Word of the Week linky then please feel free to ask any questions. New linkers are always welcome, we love to hear what you have been up to in the past week.
MY WORD OF THE WEEK – Lifted
Last week I left you with the word plans. This week I am still making plans but I have decided to use the word lifted.
Do you remember that song by The Lighthouse Family, Lifted. This is my inspiration for this weeks Word of the Week.
I’d really love to be alone without all the
Ache and pain and the April showers
Ok, I know it’s only February and the showers are more like downpours, but who doesn’t get fed up up the cold and miserable weather? I used to be a winter person but the cold and wet just makes my aches and pains so much worse now.
When it all gets dark again
The whole thing falls apart I guess
It doesn’t really matter ’bout the rain
‘Cause we’ll get through it anyway
We’ll get up and start again
Sometimes it’s tough and dark but it’s only when you reach the very pits of the darkness that you realise that the only way is up. You can get through it, get up and start again. You can be lifted from the shadows.
I started counselling today. I’ve been on the waiting list for months and today I really didn’t feel like leaving the house, but I had to. And I’m glad I did. It’s what I need, someone to talk to that won’t judge me or tell me what to do. Someone who I can tell everything too and they won’t be able to tell anyone else. There is so much, I think I will need many sessions just to tell her everything. But I’ve started at the bottom and now things can only get better. I can be lifted from those shadows that have followed me around for many years. My illness is nothing compared to the pain of my mind. The darkness inside of me causes me more pain than the agony of not being able to move while my body cramps up into painful spasms. But the two work together, and I’m sure if I can work on the mind the body will follow.
Lifted
Another way of being lifted this week is by the news that my house is going to be made safe and future proof for me. I’m having a wet room and a lift installed in April. I have so much trouble climbing into the shower, they’ve given me a step, a chair and bars on the wall, but it’s still really hard. I had a shower the other day and used up more than half my daily amount of spoons. (check spoon theory, if you don’t understand)
Having a wet room will mean I can shower safely and alone. I will no longer need to be afraid of falling and I will find it much easier to do the most basic thing of all, get washed!
The lift is something as a family we’ve had many a debate about. I wanted a stair lift but because of the shape of our stairs the lift would be difficult to install and cost a lot of money. It would take up a lot of space on the stairs so everyone else would find it a pain, and they can be really dangerous for kids. Not only that, but my occupational therapist said that a stair life would be most inappropriate for my condition.
So, we are going to have a lift. From the living room to the bedroom. Our living room is pretty big (but it’s still cluttered.) the lift will be fitted in the corner which is currently behind our bigger settee. We will just have to move the settee over a little to make space. During the day we can keep the lift upstairs so all that will be seen are two metal stripes down the wall. We will have to keep the space clear though.
The bedroom will have the biggest transformation. We are going to have to move our bed and the wardrobe and get rid of some of the unnecessary furniture. One of my bookshelves will have to go and a chest of drawers which is currently broken and unused anyway. (If we can fix it we can put it in the Little Man’s room, if not it can go to the tip.)
It’s going to make such a difference to me, especially in the morning when it takes me so long to get downstairs (And it’s so painful I could cry.)
New Horizons
Lifted, lifted up today, lifted all the way, yeah we could be lifted
We could be lifted, from the shadows, we could be lifted
Lifted up to new horizons
I really do think that the house adaptations and the therapy could actually lift me to new horizons. And maybe, just maybe, those dark shadows could be chased away.
p.s. I survived my MRI, yay! Hopefully it will be a long time before I have to have another (if ever.) I did have to be ‘lifted’ off the bed afterwards though thanks to my body completely closing down and refusing to move by itself!
Now it’s your turn, what word or phrase sums up your week this week?
I love that Lighthouse Family song and it’s such a positive one. I’m so glad you got through your MRI ok, and fingers crossed that you won’t need another one for ages. I hope that the counselling really helps you and that lifting those dark shadows in your mind will also have an impact on your body too. That’s great news about having the wet room and the lift installed; I can imagine it will make a massive difference for you. Spoon theory is something we were very aware of with Jessica – it’s such a good way of explaining how just the normal everyday activities that most of us take for granted can be so exhausting when you live with a chronic medical condition. Hope that you have a restful weekend. #WotW
Louise (Little Hearts, Big Love) recently posted…Comment on #366daysofgratitude 2020 – Week 4 by Louise
Thank you Louise. We did have a busy weekend planned but we are taking it easy instead and hiding from storm Ciara, although she hasn’t hit us yet.
Lift is such a good word. I can completely get behind the idea that the mind can lead the body, to a certain degree. I hope the therapy helps. The lift sounds like a good decision. Bit of an upheaval to prepare for it, but I’m sure it will be worth it. Nice to hear that the MRI went well. They are a strange experience. I’ve had two. Hopefully you wont need another. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thank you for hosting.
We have just got to the part in The Good Place (Netflix) where they are all having MRIs, it certainly makes them look more glamorous than they are. I am hoping there won’t be any more. I am a firm believer in mind over body and have used meditation techniques to recover from migraines many times. It’s frustrating that I can’t get this pain under control.
Anne Sweet recently posted…Word of the Week 6 – Lifted
I’m so pleased your counselling finally started, and that you are already able to open up and talk properly to your counsellor. You must be so full of things you need to let out. Well done for filling that form in you – and a hug for Graham for helping make that happen xx
Jenny @thebrickcastle recently posted…Children’s Mental Health Week 2020 – Find Your Brave.
It’s a hard thing to admit that you are not coping. But it does help, I felt I needed to let out a lot of things which I can’t normally talk about. Everyone has their own solutions and offers of help, but no-one really understands what’s in your head, so just talking helps sometimes. I kind of felt sorry for my therapist.
Anne Sweet recently posted…Word of the Week 6 – Lifted
Anne, I am so sorry you are feeling down. I think the therapy and other changes you have made will be to your benefit. I am sending good thoughts and hugs from across the pond your way. This quote made me think of you: “Seasons of loss, like the colder seasons, are the hardest ones to endure, even if you logically understand they won’t last forever.”- Mari Andrew
Laurie recently posted…Pump House Run Trail Race Review
That’s a really good quote Laurie. Sometimes it does feel like they will last forever. Thanks for your kind thoughts and hugs. x
Anne Sweet recently posted…Chronic Illness – What Am I Looking For?
Lifted is such a beautiful word. It’s full of hope. I’m glad that hope has begun paving a broader path for you this week through the changes in your home and in finally getting to talk with a counselor. I know that doesn’t mean things will be fine and dandy tomorrow, but even a little warmth on a cold winter’s day can remind us that spring still exists.
I have a lot to look forward to, sometimes it’s just today I have to get through. Thanks for your kind words Lisa. x
Anne Sweet recently posted…Word of the Week 6 – Lifted
It sounds like lifted was the perfect word for your week! Quite a bit to feel ‘lifted’about. My week has been ‘demanding’ Bets leave it there! (not doing the linky but hadn’t visited in a while!)
Demanding weeks can be difficult, I hope you are ok. Thanks for stopping by John.
Anne Sweet recently posted…Word of the Week 6 – Lifted
I love that song 🙂 I have heard of the spoons theory but fortunately not had to use it myself. I really hope your counselling will help you. I like the idea of a lift myself! I genuinely hope that things take an upward turn for you now xx
I think we will get quite a few visitors wanting to try out the lift. Thankfully, it will be hiding in the bedroom most of the time. Thanks for your kind words Karen xx
Anne Sweet recently posted…Word of the Week 6 – Lifted
I am so happy to have stumbled across your blog and link up! I will be adding my contribution in a few minutes. First I want to say congrats on counseling. Accepting and getting help when needed is not easy. I know the darkness all too well and never wish for anyone else to experience it. So happy that you are getting a lift in your home! I love anything that can improve our lives. Anyways, I look forward to reading more of your blog and getting to know you!
Thank you Cynthia. every morning and evening when I attempt my stairs I just keep thinking how much nicer it’s going to be not to have to do that anymore x
Anne Sweet recently posted…My Sunday Snapshot – Crochet Flower Card
Me again. LOL… I misunderstood the word of the week and used the one you did. Oopsie! Now I get it and will be coming up with my own for future link-ups. Thanks again for hosting these!
Thank you for joining in Cynthia, your post is lovely x
Anne Sweet recently posted…My Sunday Snapshot – Crochet Flower Card
Well done for reaching out and getting the help you need, it aleady sounds like you are feeling lighter and I’m sure that with more sessions your mind will be a much clearer space. That’s great news about the house adaptations they will make such a difference to your life which is fantastic. It sounds like your spirits have been lifted already x