Stitch This

It is fair to say that a binary style is a more Familia system to me. I have not lived alone in years… I mean decades. And the biggest challenge I find is coordination. Not only my physical actions (let’s face it, with Parkinson that was always going to be an issue!). No, I mean coordination of practical and creative aspects of my life. I find I have to coordinate not only internally but also obviously, with my family, my workmates and my friends. When I say workmates I really should say friends too as I have been lucky enough to meet and create with some wonderful people recently. You guys know I set up the studio space here in Gloucestershire last year… It carries on and is doing well and I have been so lucky with the people I have met through it. So what is the point of this post? Why am I rambling on? Well, I recently had an operation on my hand and whilst I’m sitting here waiting for it to stitch together I have been thinking about what other things need to come together to make my life happy, easier to manage and more aligned with everybody else in my life. And here’s what I’ve come up with:

Write it down – I have so many ideas going through my head right now I finally accept that the only way I’m going to remember or recall any of it at a later date is to write it down. Obviously, writing can be troublesome at times to me so when I say write it down I mean dictate it down really. And to that end my second point is

Siri is your friend – I have hated using Siri because I felt such a twit saying hey Siri but, I have to admit, especially in these times of not having a working right hand the electronic personal assistant is my friend that does help me do all sorts of things easily including this post. Sorry Siri.

Being organised is not a bad thing – now this one sounds counterintuitive – – – I mean I’m always saying I want to get organised. what I hate doing is being told what to do and what I realise now is, in order to be organised I have to have a place for everything and everything In its place and that means telling myself where to put things consistently every day. And I have to live with that and I have to accept it and if I do my life is so much easier. I rest my case. In its place.

Take small bites – by which I mean do not try and eat the whole thing as you will be sick. I will try to blitz a room in one go – empty and tidy and clean it and redecorate and rearrange, whatever. This is a recipe for disaster. It would be for most people to me even more so because I run out of energy then I get really upset. I have to stop doing this it’s crazy. So slow and steady unfortunately.

Accept help : I struggle with this one. I hate asking for help because I think it makes me look week. And in particular having Parkinson’s puts me at a disadvantage immediately – I am weak! The answer? When help is genuinely and generously offered I need to acknowledge and take it when required. My friends have been awesome and in fact they have been for years. I need to appreciate it – I’m a very lucky girl.

Don’t sweat the small stuff – you have heard this one so many times I’m sure… Prioritise prioritise prioritise.

look after myself : easily said hard to do. I find it incredibly difficult to do this without feeling guilty but I have learnt the hard way but if I do not look after myself I will crash and burn again on that damages my family. So it’s a no-brainer really.

I’m sure there’s loads more just can’t think of any more the moment. I’m also conscious that I have to get up and try and have my first bath or shower since the operation. I have my Ziploc bag ready to take to make myself an impromptu water mitt!?