Day 1: Choose Your Space

I am currently on the couch. For the chronically whatever, we often feel like our lives are lived on the couch. Some days, this is pretty true so I think today's topic is pretty relevant.

Today we are going to discuss an important part of lifekeeping that I like to call Choose Your Space.

We could get all metaphoric on this title, but since that's not productive to our goal for now, we'll just get literal on this.

To choose your space is literally making the decision of what space you choose to have. It's the literal area that you feel is within your means to take on. This platform is simultaneously about prioritizing and ignoring.

When you have a chronic condition that seems to narrow your life, choosing your space can help you more happily and proactively live in that narrow space. It's as simple as making the decision to take on only the space that you can maintain.

For me, my chosen space is my beautiful great room. This is the space where I am when I am weak, laying or sitting on the couch. It's the space where we play piano, cook our meals and entertain friends. When I chose this space I am making room for a feeling of satisfaction. When I chose this space I feel empowered to ask for help since the first thing people see is this room. Even when I am a mess, having this space maintained makes me feel more dignified, and more real and that's important for a chronic sufferer.

Though I quiet literally believe you need to chose a narrow, manageable physical space to maintain, the concept is easily applied to every area of life.

Chose a manageable space in your social life. Don't say yes to everything since this just means you are denying yourself of doing the things that are most important, and don't ask for permission to be in your life (like dirty dishes).

Chose a space in your work life.

Chose a space in your family life.

By actively choosing your space, you are (granted) excluding other spaces from your life. I wish my master bedroom was always pristine and my basement was always looking company-ready. However, in embracing my differences I have to decide to focus on what is MOST important and then tackle other items if I have a good day.

In choosing spaces, you may note that some things fall away all together. I used to love long-distance running but now content myself with walks and fun jazzercise. I used to be an avid gardener but have had to put that aside during this season. This is acceptable.

That doesn't make these losses ideal. It doesn't mean you can't grieve the life you once had or wished to have.

It does make today happier though. It makes it full of intent, and intent is just super-focused positive energy. So....choose your space and get cracking.

Or take a nap, I'm actually going to head off for my nap.

See 31 Days to a Chronic Clean.