Fulfillment Friday

(Cartoon by Andre Jordan)

I constantly feel like I get nothing done. More accurately, I don't get done as much as I would like to get done. Even after four and a half years of being a full-time Chronic Babe, I still struggle to bring my expectations down in line with my capabilities.

It doesn't help that I have an "invisible illness", i.e. I don't look sick. Even I look into the mirror and wonder why I can't do as much as someone else my age. Because I don't look sick, I often find myself in situations with other people where I realize I am doing way too much simply because I am trying to keep up with them. It is hard to constantly have to set limits and say, "No, I can't do that." or "No, that's too much for me." I am much more of a "Yes!" person...

Because I am so limited in what and how much I can do, I find that I am so much more focused on all the things I haven't gotten around to yet. It's so bad, I actually avoid spending too much time writing down a To Do list for fear of becoming overwhelmed, anxious and frustrated. Somehow the same kind of attention doesn't seem to go into acknowledging when I completed a task or meet a goal. Perhaps that is why I am feeling like I never get anything done. I'm sure it's not because I don't get things done. Maybe it's just about refocusing, paying more attention and celebrating what I can do. A variation on:

Success is not defined
by obtaining
everything you want,

but by enjoying
and appreciating
everything you have.

Learn to enjoy what you have.

So I've decided to initiate Fulfillment Friday's, where I spend a few moments each Friday contemplating my accomplishments. Since I was sick all last week, this might not be the best time to start, but here I go:

1. Completed 7 days of blog-a-day entries.
2. Completed an 8 week Puppy Education class with Theodor this past Wednesday. Yeah, Theodor graduated!
3. Mailed off the completed application for Total and Permanent Disability Student Loan Discharge, signed by my doctor and myself, taken to the Post Office by Robert.
4. Completed a five day course of antibiotics---took them all on time and finished the prescription as ordered!