Ad · Amazon affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through the link in this article, Velatrix Global Ltd may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This is a product idea to explore, not a first-hand review.
They have their own schedule
There are two spaniels in my life, which means there are two additional opinions about how I should spend my time.
They are particularly interested in whether the day’s arrangements include them. Their interest in university administration, project plans and the finer points of economics is less obvious.
Having dogs is a responsibility. It is also a very ordinary, very familiar part of my life. The household still contains personalities, routines and demands that have nothing to do with cancer.
I like having that ordinary life around me, even when it is not especially interested in making things convenient.
Wanting to be outside
Getting outdoors matters to me. I enjoy Northumberland and Cumbria, and I want to feel able to spend time outside comfortably. For an ordinary outing, a Sparrow 500 ml reusable water bottle (Ad) is one option for carrying a drink with you.
At the moment, physical difficulties affect that. Knee trouble has changed how I walk, with hip and lower-back pain adding to the problem. What I want to do and what feels manageable do not always match.
That is frustrating partly because getting out can look so simple. Put some shoes on, go through the door, enjoy being somewhere else.
When moving comfortably takes more consideration, the simple version is not always the available one.
I miss the freedom of doing an ordinary thing without thinking quite so much about the practicalities.
Ordinary pleasures are worth wanting
There is a lot of ambition in my life at the moment: studying, exploring projects and trying to create more choices for the future.
But some of what I want is much less elaborate. I want to feel comfortable getting around. I want to enjoy time outdoors. I want room in a day for something pleasant that does not have to contribute to a qualification or a business plan.
Those are not small wants just because they sound ordinary. They are part of what makes the larger plans worthwhile.
The dogs are a reminder that life includes things requiring attention right now. A project can live in a future full of possibilities; the spaniels generally prefer their requirements addressed rather sooner.
Leaving room for the good bits
I want this blog to contain difficult days and enjoyable moments without forcing either to cancel the other out.
Enjoying something does not mean the physical problems have gone. Being frustrated does not mean there is nothing in my life that I like.
Both belong in an honest account. So do the days when the most interesting thing to report is a new idea, a bit of learning or something the dogs have decided is their business.
I am still working towards getting my health back on track. Along the way, I want to notice what is already here: the interests, the places I care about and the two spaniels making sure I remain involved in ordinary life.
They may not understand the rebuilding plan. They are very clear that they expect to be included.
I’m sharing my own experience. This blog is not medical advice.