Much like this blog my life has been a broken line over the last couple of years. Health issues, as I try to cope with a prolonged flare up of my Ulcerative Colitis, have left my life fragmented, not knowing when I would be able to show up or not. I had to let go of a good job because I couldn’t consistently meet the demands and deadlines required of me. It was beyond awkward when I had to run out of a finance committee meeting multiple times to the bathroom because of the damage done to my guts. Especially when I was supposed to be presenting and reviewing the financials with the committee. Getting to the point where I couldn’t work consistently enough to prepare the financials on time for the meetings was even worse. I then had to turn down several great job offers when I thought my health was improving, but then I relapsed or developed new complications. Life has been brutal, so I just take it one step at a time.

Since my health isn’t consistent yet, I need to do what I can to structure consistency into the areas of my life that I can control. I am now working again, but it is part time with one small business and one non-profit. Both positions allow me to work from home. That makes it far easier to deal with my health challenges, compared to being in an office. I am also starting to get more engaged with things at church and in my neighborhood and community. If I have a few more good days, I might even try to get out on the river before the weather gets too cold. My life is slowly coming back together, but I have to take it in bite-sized pieces or I’ll get overwhelmed.

It would be nice to have a normal life, where I could get up every day and do what I want to and need to, but while that eludes me, I have to be willing to give myself some grace. I do my best to appreciate what I have, what I can do, and all those that help me with or forgive me for the things that I can’t. Life will go on, and I will go with it as long as I can.