Project3x5

Spooning with Alton…

Take a second to truly and honestly turn inwards. Be honest with yourself for a minute. Think about society. Breathe. Clear your mind. Are you ready? Ok, good :)

Have you ever noticed how far too often, when we hear that someone is chronically ill, ‘sick’, for all intents and purposes - ‘flawed’… we often look past them?

It’s ironically interesting how much we’re almost subconsciously trained to blind ourselves to how much more there is behind the cane, the drawling speech, the treatments, the anxiety etc. Trained to blind ourselves and focus solely on what our eyes can see rather than what our minds can think and gather.

When most people hear the words, “X has a chronic illness,” their minds fill with the obvious. But beyond the physical, there is so much more going on. NORMALITY to start!!! Wisdom and maturity for seconds! And an incredibly interesting life story to boot. Like I said, there is so much going on… and we can all choose to make that a hell of a thing.

Am I this?

Or am I this?

Lots of love, Danielle xx

(For the record, I believe people are good. People are great! I love people and I love you all! I just believe there needs to be a shift in first perceptions. A “don’t judge a book by it’s cover” sort of thing. I feel that if you honestly turn inwards, you’ll feel this way too. xx)

In Tobago for a much-needed break from ketamine treatments, hospitals, and the gloom of wintery days. Chronic Illness and the pain that it brings stands by me like an unwanted goon I can’t quite seem to shake… but I look up at the sun, give thanks, and do my very best to pretend that just for this little while, things are more than on the up :)

I’m incredibly sorry for the fact that there’s been a lack of posts! It’s a 3rd world island and the Internet is hard to come by (it’s true! I promise!) Bikinis, however, are in abundance… xx

[Hand]Stand tall no matter what may come to pass… And never be ashamed to get by with a little help from your friends. :)

A Pair of Happy Feet go to the Beach…

Sista, Sista! Proving that four Happy Feet are better than two…

(I would apologize for my CRPS/RSD skeletor-looking foot on the left but I’m not going to. Nope. No way!!! That discolored and scarred little left foot was put together with so much love and care - it’s my pride and joy. Now, as for the bony right foot with the funny toes… well that’s genetics. And who wouldn’t want a walking reminder of their loving, supportive family to look down on at all times?) xx

12(ish) Days of Christmas Goals to a Happier, Healthier You!

Day 4: After my accident, I felt lost. So lost in fact, that I could never even begin to spin words that might delve into how deep that feeling truly went. I felt as though my identity had been stripped away. Ripped from me with absolutely no warning. Everything I had worked so hard for, gone in a literal and very traumatic crunch.

No more independent life, running about London-town (and in fantastic heels at that…). Just a tick away from finishing my masters, suddenly my life became agony, hospitals, and surgeries rather than any possibility of research for a dissertation and the hope of a distinction.

Yet, this post is hardly all doom and gloom! You’re in the wrong place if your looking for posts like that…

It’s an important lesson to learn that, “We make plans and God laughs.” It was an even more important lesson to learn that no matter how dark and how grim things may get… passion remains, and if you allow it to be, it can be your saving grace.

Keep your dreams close to you. No matter how sick, or how painful things may get, let them light your days and guide your recovery. Imagine the things that they’ll bring you once your better! And you WILL get better! Allow your passion to unlock every last bit of your spirit. Fight for your future and before you know it… something huge will be headed your well-deserved way.

All of my love, Danielle xx

12(ish) Days of Christmas Goals to a Happier, Healthier You!

Day 2: Be courageous! Take the road less travelled. Surprise yourself! Free-will is a human right. So, why not exercise it?

I feel as though this works for both normal life and “patient” life. What’s the point of continuing down the same path if it’s not working for you? Take a risk! Try something new. As scary as it might be: “guinea-pig-yourself”. Hell, it might just work. And if not? Put your free-will back into overdrive! As Bach says, “You’re always free to change your mind”.

Don’t allow your happiness to get tied up with complications…

If it sounds simple. It can be.

Happy Feet Take Flight!

I’ve been in and out the hospital since my last big post, for a series of ketamine boosters to help with a wave of pain that was starting to crest.

Hallelujah that’s over, and now my happy little feet are on their way down home to Trinidad for the Holidays.

See you down there…

Ps: for any advice* on pain management and flying (and unfortunately, it’s just advice! Although I feel as though I should have an honorary phD at this point, I don’t! I am by no means a doctor!) feel free to contact me via Disqus comments down below, email (theprojecte3x5@gmail.com) or twitter (@theproject3x5). I’m always happy to help where I can! xx

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When we hear someone is ‘sick’…