It is October and I am stepping outside my comfort zone and participating in a Link Up party hosted by A Chronic Voice. This is held every month and new writing prompts are given on the 1st of each month. To participate you must write about at least three of the prompts given (see full rules).
I must say, I am a little intimated but I am going to take the leap anyway. I am going to write about what these prompts mean to me and then challenge myself to implement them somehow in my life for this month. You can make a similar challenge with yourself, even if you just pick one!
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October Link Up Prompts:
- Budgeting
- Speeding
- Slowing
- Evaluating
- Escaping
Budgeting
My first reaction to this word is to think about money and how I need to control the spending of it better. However, now that I have Fibromyalgia the word budgeting takes on a whole new meaning for me. I now need to budget my “spoons” or energy everyday all day. If I fail to do this, I could find myself not able to accomplish all my tasks or worse possibly not able to even get out of bed the next day.
This word also makes me a little sad. It reminds me of how I usually need to budget my time during this time of year. I’m taking the semester off from Penn State to give my body, mind and soul a much needed break. So, I do not need to budget my time as closely as I usually do. I challenge myself to be more aware of how I budget my energy and stick to that budget, even if it means saying no sometimes.
Speeding
October makes me feel like 2018 is speeding to a close, which always makes me think about how my kids are growing older way too fast. It means we are getting closer to my youngest son not wanting to dress up for Halloween anymore. Since I already have a 22-year-old daughter, I know exactly what it feels like when these little things start happening. Believe me, time is always speeding way too fast when it comes to your own kids. I challenge myself to focus on the present moment with my kids and enjoy watching them grow, not how fast it is speeding by.
Slowing
It seems every one is always rushing around, rushing to work and school and appointments. How often do we slow down and “smell the roses”? When you have a chronic pain illness like I do, it is important to remember to slow down. The process of slowing down can happen in several ways. You can go for a walk, do yoga or my favorite take a nap. My challenge for myself this month is to meditate everyday for 10 minutes, which will allow me to slow way down and be in the present moment more.
Evaluating
I have been evaluating my life for quite a few months now since I became so sick that I couldn’t work or go to school. This has made me carefully review what is important to me, what I need in my life and what I do not. Which also involves looking at myself and deciding what I can do to help my health be something that I can manage instead of it managing me. I challenge myself to not just keep evaluating my situation and myself but to move to the next stage and implement change.
Escaping
I hope that in October I can find ways to escape the daily pain and exhaustion that I feel. My current escape is working on content for blog, Fibromomblog. This actually is therapeutic as well because it gives me a chance to reflect on my illness and my feelings about it. My challenge for myself this month is to spend more time outdoors escaping, going for walks and hikes to beautiful places.
Well, I did it! I found something to say about each one. I’m so proud of myself! I challenge you to join this link up party as well. If writing isn’t your thing, that’s ok. I challenge you to comment below about one of these prompts. You can tell us what it means to you and how you can challenge yourself this month. I look forward to reading your comments.
Alison Hayes
Suzanne – when I looked at these words, my thoughts also went straight to energy – budgeting energy, the need to slow down, evaluating and reevaluating my self-image knowing that I had much less physical, emotional, and mental energy. How speeding up just isn’t an option any more, and how escaping from the present can make things worse, and how important acceptance of the ‘new normal’ is. I have accepted my new normal, but I know it is a struggle.
Suzanne
You took the words out of my mouth Alison! Accepting the “new normal”! I still struggle with this one. Although when I forget, I seem to pay for it later. Thank you so much for your comment and I really appreciate you reading my post!
Sheryl
Hi Suzanne,
Thanks so much for taking the courage to step out of your comfort zone and choosing to join us in the linkup this month! I can assure you that it was a very insightful read, and I love how you broke them down into challenges or goals for yourself – no one has really done it like that before! Here’s wishing you all the best with these goals, and may your month be restful and happy!
Suzanne
Thank you so much Sheryl. I appreciate you organizing this and giving us all something to not only take our minds off the pain, but finding a way to communicate about as well. I find it so interesting how different all our posts are but how they all have so much in common as well. The whole process makes me feel so much closer to everyone involved. Thank you again – I look forward to the next challenge!
Terri, Reclaiming HOPE
You did a great job with the prompts Suzanne! I try to participate in Sheryl’s linkup each month also, though “life” has gotten in the way for the last couple of months and I missed them . Like you, when I thought of budgeting, my mind went to budgeting my time. I guess that’s something most of us spoonies have in common.? I love that you set up challenges for yourself as well – that’s brilliant! I hope you’re able to get the outdoor “escape” time you have planned and that the weather cooperates with you. Blessings to you!
Suzanne
Thank you so much Terri. I really appreciate your comment, it means a lot to me.
Rhiann
Hi Suzanne
Thank you for your wonderful insights into living with Fibromyalgia. It’s always strange how you can relate to other’s experiences and insights despite living with such different conditions.
You are a great writer and will look more to reading more in the future.
Take care
Rhiann x
Suzanne
Thank you so much for your kind words Rhiann. You don’t know how much it means to me! I do find that many of us with chronic illness don’t always have the same condition, but we have a lot of the same feelings. That is why we have to stick together and support each other, so again thank you for your support!
Kathy
I enjoyed reading your answers, Suzanne! I hope that your semester off recharges your battery!
Suzanne
Thank you Kathy! Me too!