Hi. It is HOT here. And I am generally one love-the-hot mama. This stuff is oppressive.
I bummed a ride to a yoga festival. Sweat like a fool while I was there but it was fun. I saw several people I have not seen in months. Most of them were aware I am losing my sight and that is the reason I dropped from their sight.
Is this just my experience or do people ask you how you are feeling? I don’t quite get if they think Age-Related Macular Degeneration is painful or if they are asking how I am feeling emotionally.
Either way I am OK. Sweltering (in real-time it is August) but OK. It was a busy week but even though I brought work home, I still had the opportunity for leisure. My yogini transported me there and back. She is a busy mother of two little ones but we made it work.
I had asked someone else for a ride (spread the ‘wealth’ of my presence??) at first. I discovered since that woman was not able to take me, she had been looking for a ride for me. A few months ago I would have been mortified but now I just see it as my community taking care of one of its own. That is a plus.
Also, this woman, another yoga instructor in the community, told my friend she would make herself available to give me private lessons should my vision get so bad I cannot get to group classes.
Remember what I said about the world being full of good people? It is true.
So, living in the moment and not borrowing trouble from the future, life is good. I am good. I came home to a pool that was a bit green but it was wet and cool and when you own your own pool you can jump in in your sweaty, disgusting yoga clothes and nobody yells at you. Score!
I would suspect many of you are also discovering there is life after diagnosis when it comes to AMD. It may not be the life you had or the life you planned but it can be a decent life.
I remain in awe of the number of people who stand ready to help. Friends, acquaintances, even strangers have been and continue to be there for me. All I had to do was express a desire to remain part of life, part of the community. I would predict the same would be true for you.
And one more thing, every once in a while it is a good idea to count your blessings. Some of mine sweat and stretch on their mats and end their practices with this phrase: “the light in me recognizes and honors the light in you. Namaste”. Let it shine.
Written 8/14/2016