Friday, November 13, 2015

Why My Invisible Illness Is Like A Swan


In the mist of the giant pond lies a swan. Swans are known for their beauty and peace. They float with elegance around the water standing tall and proud. What you don't see though is what is going on under the surface of the water. In order for the swan to swim and keep up with its flock it has to swim continuously. When you see a swan you don't think about the work that is put into to keep that swan swimming on the water. This invisible work came evident to me and I was able to connect with it at once. This is my animal and I use it to help tell my story.


My invisible illness is like a swan in disguise. A swan appears calm and collected on the outside. It swims around the body of water of choosing with no sign of struggle. Simply content and happy with the life that it is living. 

Like a graceful white swan gliding on the water – from the outside I appear to be a healthy young teenager. What you don't see is the struggle every day to survive and thrive with a body that does not seem to want to do its job. 

I am like a swan underneath the surface of the water, a swan struggling to stay afloat - splashing my feet in an endless circle to stay above the surface, to move forward to eat, to survive, to play, to learn – doing anything I possibly can  - like a swan wanting to be able to join its flock.

A swan is very much like an invisible illness, it stands tall and hides the unknown and the true struggle that the body has. You don't see my body fighting to survive every day, fighting to get nutrition and keep me moving. What you see is the outside of a normal happy and healthy looking teenage girl. 


I try and handle every challenge with the grace of a swan gently gliding on a lake - unaffected by what lurks beneath the dark waters, by the chaos produced by my body. I am a swan swimming to stay afloat hoping to live a normal life in a body that wants to do differently.  I will continue to hold my head up high, I will continue to swim and glide through life like a swan - for I know my flock will never leave me behind.







Thursday, October 29, 2015

SMILE

In the mist of the past month through all the ups and downs this word has been in the forefront of my mind. This one word has kept me going and continues to remind me every day of how lucky I am. I am surrounded by amazing family and friends. Because of them I am able to smile and overcome the challenges I face.

I want to start my first blog post with this word. For me personally a smile's meaning is more than an emotion that your muscles express when you are happy. A smile shows that you care, that you can keep going, that everything is all right. One smile can change a life. Through my journey these past few years I have met some extraordinary people and each one has given me the gift of a smile. If there is one thing that I can say that I have learned and what to pass on it is this...

SMILE

So Much In Life (To) Enjoy

That is what a Smile is and that is what it does. Sitting in the hospital and at home I am trying to find a way to spread my message and do something. This is my first step on that road and I want to help spread the message to as many people as possible. It all starts with you.  If you see someone today at school, work, or on the street - give them a gift of a smile. It is a small and simple gesture that may change that persons day and goes much farther than the eye can see.

Here I am sending a smile to all of you :)