Comments on: Chronic illness means frequently weighing the pros and cons http://workingwithchronicillness.com/2008/06/02/chronic-illness-means-frequently-weighing-the-pros-and-cons/ Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:31:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Rosalind http://workingwithchronicillness.com/2008/06/02/chronic-illness-means-frequently-weighing-the-pros-and-cons/#comment-2772 Rosalind Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:50:10 +0000 http://workingwithchronicillness.com/?p=355#comment-2772 I'm so glad to hear that you enjoy this, Anne. And I love the term, "budgeting your energy.' I'm going to use that - it's like living within a financial budget if you think about it. Great potential with that! I’m so glad to hear that you enjoy this, Anne. And I love the term, “budgeting your energy.’ I’m going to use that - it’s like living within a financial budget if you think about it. Great potential with that!

]]> By: Anne Cowles http://workingwithchronicillness.com/2008/06/02/chronic-illness-means-frequently-weighing-the-pros-and-cons/#comment-2762 Anne Cowles Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:55:46 +0000 http://workingwithchronicillness.com/?p=355#comment-2762 Hi Rosalind, Thank you for your recent e-mail articles. I have enjoyed them all. I wanted to reply to your most recent entry - pros and cons. I call it budgeting my energy. I am so glad to hear of your mental path to make decisions. I, too, weigh what is important to me when a good amount of my energy is needed for a task. For example, today, I was chatting with someone in a support group, where I presented information about my exercise classes. She was telling me about the folks who were unable to attend today's meeting due to ms-related issues. I felt for those folks, because the worst thing about ms, for me, is not being able to get out into the world and interact with people when I am having major symptoms. In other words, if something could really cause me fatigue, or even cognition issues, if it means not getting out and seeing people, I may decide to zap all of my energy and go for it. Of course, everyone's priorities are unique. Thanks for showing us how you thrive and succeed, Rosalind. Anne Cowles Woodland Park, CO Hi Rosalind,
Thank you for your recent e-mail articles. I have enjoyed them all.
I wanted to reply to your most recent entry - pros and cons. I call it budgeting my energy.
I am so glad to hear of your mental path to make decisions. I, too, weigh what is important to me when a good amount of my energy is needed for a task. For example, today, I was chatting with someone in a support group, where I presented information about my exercise classes. She was telling me about the folks who were unable to attend today’s meeting due to ms-related issues. I felt for those folks, because the worst thing about ms, for me, is not being able to get out into the world and interact with people when I am having major symptoms. In other words, if something could really cause me fatigue, or even cognition issues, if it means not getting out and seeing people, I may decide to zap all of my energy and go for it. Of course, everyone’s priorities are unique.

Thanks for showing us how you thrive and succeed, Rosalind.
Anne Cowles
Woodland Park, CO

]]> By: Rosalind http://workingwithchronicillness.com/2008/06/02/chronic-illness-means-frequently-weighing-the-pros-and-cons/#comment-2754 Rosalind Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:25:39 +0000 http://workingwithchronicillness.com/?p=355#comment-2754 It's not fair that we have to make these choices - but then again, what's fair? We, more than most people, have to know wha treally mattes to us at all times. THis isn't easy and but otherwise we're stuck -setting priorities can be really, really tough! It’s not fair that we have to make these choices - but then again, what’s fair? We, more than most people, have to know wha treally mattes to us at all times. THis isn’t easy and but otherwise we’re stuck -setting priorities can be really, really tough!

]]> By: Diana http://workingwithchronicillness.com/2008/06/02/chronic-illness-means-frequently-weighing-the-pros-and-cons/#comment-2752 Diana Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:11:35 +0000 http://workingwithchronicillness.com/?p=355#comment-2752 I have to say that I agree with the boss. If the boss is willing to make accommodation so that the employee can work, then I think that in all fairness the employee should keep up his/her end of the bargain and show up for work on the days scheduled, rested and able to perform the duties of the job. It's not fair that in order to continue to work, we have to give up some of the things that make us happy (and tired) in order for that to happen but that is the reality of the situation. We are not like other people and when we are tired we are bone tired and don't recover quickly. Although we want to try to continue our lives as usual, the truth is that we can't do that and have any real quality of life. We must prioritize and that means perhaps giving up things like blowing out our neighbors driveways, if the activity is going to leave us so depleted in energy that we can't perform well on the job. It sometimes takes a long time to come to that realization but come we must. I've made a rule for me that I can commit to one major activity a day and not every day and i pass on any other activity that comes along. This works for me because I really hate the fatigue and confusion that comes with overdoing. I have to say that I agree with the boss. If the boss is willing to make accommodation so that the employee can work, then I think that in all fairness the employee should keep up his/her end of the bargain and show up for work on the days scheduled, rested and able to perform the duties of the job. It’s not fair that in order to continue to work, we have to give up some of the things that make us happy (and tired) in order for that to happen but that is the reality of the situation. We are not like other people and when we are tired we are bone tired and don’t recover quickly. Although we want to try to continue our lives as usual, the truth is that we can’t do that and have any real quality of life. We must prioritize and that means perhaps giving up things like blowing out our neighbors driveways, if the activity is going to leave us so depleted in energy that we can’t perform well on the job. It sometimes takes a long time to come to that realization but come we must. I’ve made a rule for me that I can commit to one major activity a day and not every day and i pass on any other activity that comes along. This works for me because I really hate the fatigue and confusion that comes with overdoing.

]]> By: Rosalind http://workingwithchronicillness.com/2008/06/02/chronic-illness-means-frequently-weighing-the-pros-and-cons/#comment-2751 Rosalind Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:31:30 +0000 http://workingwithchronicillness.com/?p=355#comment-2751 I can understand that you would want out. It sounds as if you haven't had any thing other than work and that's an imbalance for anyone. Have you thought about a different job or different type of work? Are there other possibilities than just getting "out"? What would a "real life" be for you? Rosalind I can understand that you would want out. It sounds as if you haven’t had any thing other than work and that’s an imbalance for anyone. Have you thought about a different job or different type of work? Are there other possibilities than just getting “out”? What would a “real life” be for you? Rosalind

]]> By: Karen http://workingwithchronicillness.com/2008/06/02/chronic-illness-means-frequently-weighing-the-pros-and-cons/#comment-2750 Karen Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:40:54 +0000 http://workingwithchronicillness.com/?p=355#comment-2750 I have been telling everyone for years that my job is my life. I have MS, and am getting tired. I have tried working from home (my boss prefers me in the office) I have cut by on any socializing other than at lunch, and I am plain tired. I want out. I want to enjoy what I am beginning to think of us "real life." I used to love my job. That helped. N I have been telling everyone for years that my job is my life. I have MS, and am getting tired. I have tried working from home (my boss prefers me in the office) I have cut by on any socializing other than at lunch, and I am plain tired.

I want out. I want to enjoy what I am beginning to think of us “real life.” I used to love my job. That helped.

N

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