I love the saying ‘the grass is greener where you water it’. If you would have asked me five years ago to define it, I would have said it means that you should invest your romantic energy in your partner instead of putting it towards someone outside of your relationship while complaining that your current relationship isn’t ‘all that’ anymore. It wasn’t long into my illness when I started to see new meaning in the saying. When you’re housebound, with no income, and most everyone has faded away, you really must dig deeply to look for your own happiness, to ‘keep your grass green’ instead of simply wishing you had what others have.
Since joining in with chronic illness communities online I’ve learned through others what the true definition of strength, perseverance, and absolute admiration look like, people who are absolutely fighting for their own little patch of green grass every single day. I used to say my mom was the strongest person I’ve ever known, and honestly that may still be true, but boy there are some close runners up out there. People who just keep pushing through the adversity, the mistreatment, the misdiagnoses, the pain, the suffering. Despite it all, they wake up everyday and they tackle it , they face the fragility of their bodies with a grace that you can’t help but admire.
Chronic illness doesn’t care how old you are, or how much money you make, it doesn’t care if you have family or friends, it doesn’t care if you are happy or sad. And it certainly doesn’t care if you lose all of that. All it selfishly cares about is keeping you ill. I’m not going to lie to you and say that making sure you’re watering your own grass before you complain someone else has greener grass than you is easy. It’s not. In fact, what is easy is to feel left behind as other people go on with their lives. But it’s worth it to try, try to feed your own soul, to find the thing or things that make you happy. The next time you catch yourself wishing for something someone else has maybe try and ask yourself what can I do to make this a better moment for me. How can I shed some self-compassion on this situation? Again, doesn’t always work, lets face it somedays are ROUGH, but I encourage you to keep trying to find that silver lining. With that I’ll close with another of my favorite sayings, “Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.” (Victor Hugo) That one is absolutely true…I’ve seen it with my own eyes.
Thank you for stopping by folks! Hoping today is as kind to you as it possibly can be and that you find your own little slice of happy somewhere in the day. 🌼 A few more of my little doodles. 😊
this is so beautifully written from your heart and soul and i could feel your love for our fellow chronic illness sufferers, and for this, i am deeply thankful. bless you for always lifting others up……….
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Thank you, Wendi 🌸 Hoping today has been kind to you 💕
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my pleasure! thank you, today was kind 🙂
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I couldn’t agree more. I see so much strength out there, it’s inspirational! Thank you for this uplifting post! 🙂
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I’m glad you found it uplifting, Sierra. I know some days are harder than others and I was hoping I wouldn’t offend anyone. Hoping today is kind to you 🌸
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Someday I would truly like to see you “tear into someone”. I can be a downright bitch so I feel that karma may be giving it back to me some days… for you my dear it really just isn’t fair
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You make me smile😊 I’ll leave it at this. I’m divorced and during that relationship I used up my allotted lifetime quota of tearing into someone. It was well deserved on his part, very, very well deserved, but I’m all out of zest at this point. Plus I get a sore throat when I raise my voice 😂 Hoping today is a good one for you 🤗
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You always put things so beautifully. And your anthropomorphic vegetables and food always put a smile on my face!
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Thank you🌺 I still can’t figure out why I love to personify food. 😁 Funny thing is I’m not a foodie, at all. Although I’m definitely a ‘desserty’ as I love sweets! As you may have noticed. 😂 Hoping today is taking it easy on you 🌸
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Great post! Do you allow reblogging? I agree with this message and would love to share it!
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Thank you 😊 Yep, feel free. If I post something it’s for anyone to see. Hoping today has been kind to you 🌸
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Thank you, Mishka!
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This is so beautiful Mishka! I love the reminder that we need to “water our own grass.” That’s so important when we live with chronic illness, isn’t it? Allowing ourselves the same compassion we would show others is hard sometimes, but it really can make all the difference in how we perceive our quality of life. As always, your artwork is beautiful. I especially love those little beets – they just made me feel very happy for some reason!
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Thank you, Terri😊 It’s nice to hear my silly little beets made you smile. 😁 I was exhausted and they didn’t come out as I’d hoped so that’s nice to hear. Hoping your weekend is peaceful and relaxing 🌸
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I thought they were adorable! I hope you have a lovely weekend also sweet friend.
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Reblogged this on Stone in the Road.
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Thank you 🌸
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A Heart felt post Mishka, the resilience of those who are & have gone through so much always encourages.
Bless you,
Jennifer
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Thank you 🌸 Hoping you’re enjoying the chillier season where you are.
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This is a really good way to interpret the quote, and I totally agree. We’re put into that position of having to adapt and dig deep and really focus on ‘making our own grass greener’ for ourselves. It also reminds us I think to be more compassionate to ourselves, and to not compare to others, which can be so painful when we’ve lost so much and our lives can changed quite drastically from illness. That other quote is one I find to be incredibly poignant, and one of my favourites too, “Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.” A wonderful encouraging post, Mishka, and lovely art as always. Little Elmo! You’ve done him before, haven’t you? So cute! xx
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Thank you 🌸 When you get it, you get it. It’s a life lesson I wish none of us had to learn.
I couldn’t remember if I’d done Elmo 🙃😁 (I checked and I hadn’t). I’ve done big bird 😊 Someday I’d like to do Oscar, as he’s one of my favs. Hoping your weekend is peaceful 🌺
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You inspire me and I’ve nominated you for the Chronically Hopeful Award. You can see the details at https://reclaiminghope.blog/2019/06/08/im-so-honored-i-was-nominated-for-the-chronically-hopeful-award/ Of course, no pressure — I just want you to know how much I appreciate you!
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Thank you, Terri! What an honor! I appreciate you thinking of me and when I respond I’ll let you know. I look forward to reading yours. 🌸
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Please don’t feel any pressure sweet friend. I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate your positive presence here in the blogosphere. Hugs!
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I regained my half smile the day I decided to be happy with how things are, it is what it is, and to build a life for myself around my illness. true not always easy, I am never jealous of someone else’s grass, I just struggle to walk on mine when its a little more rough looking then usual. I’ve gotten to the point I mostly accept this life, I mostly snap when its more and more then the usual hardness
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Thank you for stopping in! It seems like we are all doing our best. WP seems to be acting up today as I tried to tell you this elsewhere, but I wanted to let you know I replied to your nomination. Thank you again! It was fun to ponder your questions. 🌸
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