A new focus, a new beginning….

Well, doesn’t time fly? Where has it gone? It has been almost a year since I have written on this site and I cannot believe it – it has flown by. Lots has happened, which is the norm when you have not written in so long! So what have been the highlights? Well, many things. Spending time with family and friends, learning and studying, enjoying life! The pics below are some highlights of 2010 so far….. So why start writing here at TLWC again? Good question!

I am in a different place to where I was last August. I am still living with CF (obviously) and so I have spent a lot of time over the last year thinking. About CF, about living with CF, about everything that comes with living with Chronic Illness. Chronic Illness and Injury really changes the work/rest/play dynamic in your life. And while I consider myself a proactive and conscientious CF “survivor” I also have times when I struggle with the unique issues that having CF bring to my life. I have come to terms with the facts of CF but sometimes the “lifestyle” issues that come with having CF really have me stumped.

Some of those “lifestyle” issues have included working, studying, having a career as well as a life outside of CF. I have spent many years trying to find out what I want to do with my life, what I want to be when I grow up. You know, the usual!! Having CF has made this decision making process much harder than normal. I had so many things I wanted to do and be but my body was not able to cooperate. When it became impossible to work a 9-5 anymore I had a dream of being able to work from home, productively, happily. I have searched high and low for a business or job that I could undertake from home. Without luck. If you want to work and are not able to do the 9-5, like many people with Chronic Illness or Injury, then you need a plan, you need to get creative and you need to realise that you are not going to be handed an opportunity, you have to CREATE one. So what to do? How to do it? I researched, soul searched and head scratched. After a few investigations, and much sulking, I have finally got myself a plan. I finally got clued in and changed my thinking process. Thank goodness!

So that is where the new chapter of The Life We Cherish comes in. I am now trying to work towards that goal of finding the right fit for me, in work, in study and in life. TLWC is about inspiring those with Chronic Illness and Injury to be able to live a happy and fulfilled life. I REALLY do believe that we can achieve our dreams, whatever they may be, we just have to be creative in how we approach them. We have to start working smarter, not harder. TLWC will still be about inspiration and motivation as well as about how to deal with the day to day “stuff” that Illness dumps on you. A whole bunch more of practical information on how to work towards your goals AND survive day to day. I am, however, going to make a couple of changes to TLWC. In the past I have written this blog as only “Lily” to protect my privacy and my loved ones who are mentioned on here but I am now going to open up the TLWC to my life and my families life. My mother and I have decided to work together on a couple of articles from a mothers perspective, how she feels, how she copes and so on. Mum is already chomping at the bit to get into it!! Go Mum! I have also got a list of people I personally know who inspire me in my day to day battle against failing health. They live with either Chronic Illness or serious, life-altering injury and they have taught me a whole lot about fighting the good fight. I am NOT going to promise to write 3 times a week but I will promise to write regularly about the practical and unusual ways that I go about having a life while living with health issues. TLWC is about my life  but I am sharing this because I know I am not the only one who struggles with the issues that your health can throw at you. I am not alone. I think that we can all learn from each other about how to deal with health issues and still have a life. I am just wanting to do my bit. If it helps just one person than my work here is done….

And I am always super excited to hear from TLWC readers so email anytime!

Lx