Hello All,

It is a clear and beautiful day here in Texas and the sunshine is making me want to celebrate after the recent floods.

I know we all need to vent and am glad we have this place for support during rough times, cuz I need it too! But in the interest of sharing some positives I am starting a new thread about finding joy and beauty.

Before I had to deal with my injury and this illness I was really active and game for anything, strenuous hikes, biking long distance, walking all day. The change was huge. But I am finding new ways to be and new things to do.

Here is a list of neat things I have done since having CRPS. Some of these were done while being non-weightbearing which went on for about a year. Believe me, I know there is a way to keep parts of life when challenged.

Kayaking - a favorite, even on crutches (just gotta get in there) and in really cool conditions...in light rain watching raindrops bounce on the surface, surrounded by hundreds of floating blossoms that fell from overhead trees, in water pink from the sunset and in moonlight!

Biking short distance - after crutches, duh.
Gone to movies and IMAX documentaries
Traveled by air - with and without every possible assistive device, wheelchair, walker and crutches
Went to Six Flags Theme Park - rented a scooter and enjoyed watching my family
Walked on a beach and lolled like a sea mammal in gentle waves - my hurt foot liked this!
Made new friends
Fed a chipmunk who climbed on my lap when all I did was sit still a lot.

Went to....
an airshow
an outdoor art show - walker
a natural history museum - with breaks
a play
an aquarium - with walker
art galleries
a cruise on a tall ship (schooner) while on one crutch still
snorkeling - this one's great for the foot injured
played with hermit crabs in a tide pool
Cirque du Soleil
kept going to Italian
started yoga/pilates (I modify poses as needed)
started piano lessons
tried new therapies - hypnosis and EMDR
built and painted a kit loft bed for my son - most of the work could be done sitting, I got help for the rest...

That's a lot of great stuff! I should pay attention to what I can still do more often. I am grateful to friends and family for support that helped make these things possible. Yes, it has required planning and pacing and modifications and adjustment. I plan on having higher pain sometimes because of choosing activities that challenge me. I have to have a lot of downtime and may always miss those big hikes. But there is still a lot out there and I am so much better when I get to do something wonderful sometimes.

Please add to the list. We all need inspiration! On the Peripheral neuropathy forum someone wrote that they went to Rome and did okay! Wouldn't that be amazing!

Okay, I am going out in the sun now....Sending out thoughts of healing and restoration,