Putting My Joy Thief in Jail by Andrea Junge
Even though I am still scared, I know that I have tools to help me get by. I have control over my emotions (I can cry if I want to!) and I am in charge of what I allow for myself. It’s time for me to get over it. This will be what it will be and I refuse to allow my extreme myopia to take my joy from me anymore.
I’m locking this thief up. Life in prison. Death sentence.
Now, I try to tell myself that my bazillion floaters and my blind spot are there to remind me to to take in all the joy while I can. I tell myself that in 10 years there will be so many new devices and low vision aids and my life will still be great. I allow myself to be upset once a day, as soon as I wake up. Sometimes this works, and sometimes it doesn’t – I am still a work in progress. When I feel sad and overwhelmed, I remind myself that life is good. It really is. My children and students need me to be present. My husband needs me to be happy. I need to be strong. I need all of the joy I can find. Every single moment of it.
Maybe someday I will be better because of this: a better mother, better wife, better teacher, better daughter, better friend perhaps? Maybe all of this can be a blessing in disguise. I’m not there quite yet, but I hope to be someday soon.
When Linda asked me to write a page for the Website, I jumped at the opportunity. I know that many of us have different eye ailments and are at different stages of our lives, but we all have so much in common. This group has given me so much strength and knowledge, I absolutely love how we learn from each other and feel genuinely concerned for our different, yet failing eyes. I would like to say thank you to everybody who is helping me along my journey.
Wishing you all a healthy JOY-filled 2017. Each day is a gift.