(#) Things Since (Terrible Thing)

Like this: “50 Things Since Fibro” or “19 Things Since COVID-19”

I was feeling sorry for myself yesterday. I was feeling disabled. It happens sometimes because, you know, I have disabilities. It’s a terrible feeling and I wanted to kick it on its way. So I started to think of all the things I am able to do, and that got me to thinking of a bunch of really cool things I’ve done since I got fibromyalgia (just one of my disabilities, but we’re going to go with this one for timeline and alliterative purposes).

Now I’m going to fix myself a cup of tea and see what I can come up with as I write out 50 things I’ve done since the onset of my fibro, that I never did before, that are totally awesome and prove how able and mighty and blessed I still am….

50 Things Since Fibro

1. Started my own business as a speaker
2. Traveled solo to a remote area of Brazil to meet my sponsored child of 11 years
3. Hiked to a waterfall in a cave in Brazil
4. Became a bartender
5. Came to Jesus
6. Kayaked in the Wisconsin Dells
7. Presented on invisible disabilities to students at Johns Hopkins University
8. Presented on invisible disabilities to faculty at Johns Hopkins University
9. Presented on invisible disabilities and universal design to faculty at my alma mater and got an award
10. Presented on invisible disabilities to a Native American community
11. Drove to California, via Yellowstone National Park, and back with my dog in 16 days
12. Drove around the country with my dog for 10 weeks
13. Went hang gliding
14. Traveled solo to Portugal
15. Traveled solo to Hungary, Czech Republic, and Poland, taking the night train in between each city
16. Traveled solo to Belgium
17. Made 3 appearances on a local TV show
18. Performed stand-up comedy in a packed historic theatre to raise money for a dog rescue
19. Built shelves in my word studio
20. Wrote dozens of blog articles on themes like disability and inspiration
21. Invented Splat
22. Published two books
23. Got elected to office
24. Became the chairperson of my local municipal authority
25. Learned how to let my hair be curly
26. Repaired a neighbor’s shredder
27. Repaired a neighbor’s shi—, er, toilet
28. Learned to make gluten-free muffins
29. Created a self-love workshop for my church
30. Stayed up past 3 a.m. in Times Square
31. Fed a monkey in the Philippines
32. Watched a Broadway musical
33. Saw 8 operas in 6 historic operas houses in 4 countries
34. Camped in Big Bend National Park
35. Camped in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
36. Got my dog up to 43 states visited for her
37. Safely returned baby doves fallen from their nest on my porch
38. Visited two Frank Lloyd Wright houses in Pennsylvania
39. Planted herbs
40. Converted my third floor into a home gym
41. Soaked my feet in hot springs in New Mexico, at a Buddhist compound with my Jemez friend
42. Helped start an epic neighborhood New Year’s house-hop tradition
43. Started making documinitaries
44. Celebrated my dog’s 11th birthday with our bestie in California
45. Wrote a poem to memorialize a friend
46. Made Reuben mountain pies
47. Quit the corporate job
48. Gave two sermons at my church
49. Became part of the church leadership council
50. Wrote this list

Wow! That felt great! Look at everything I can do! OK, on to the next one. I’m doing this one for the coronavirus and how it’s changed the world and my world, to see what new ways my life is great despite all the losses….

19 Things Since COVID-19

1. Celebrated my 40th birthday with my very best friend!
2. Took my dog to Fowler’s Hollow State Park
3. Took my dog to Swatara State Park
4. Took my dog to Poe Paddy State Park
5. Got ding dong ditched Rice Krispie donuts
6. Got a new job in the medical/wellness field
7. Was a guest on my friend’s awesome podcast, Improvised Wikipedia
8. Raided my dog’s epic bandana collection to accessorize my face

Oh look! It’s incomplete! Why didn’t I finish it? Because finishing it will be my job in the coming weeks. I need to actively go out and live things to add to this list. And so should you.