How being chronically ill taught me to really live in the moment 

How being chronically ill taught me to really live in the moment 

I was out for a run in Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago and as the sun was rising, the scene was so beautiful that I kept stopping to take photos. I kept promising myself that each photo would be the last and that then I would get on with my run. But I just couldn’t do it. And I laughed at myself for stopping so many times. But I also laughed a bit at my old self: the person who wouldn’t have allowed herself to stop. Who would have wanted the run to be so “perfect” that she would hardly even have noticed the beauty of the sun and the sea. And so in a strange way I’m grateful for having been chronically ill. Because it really taught me how to slow down – or even stop – and be in the moment and enjoy the beauty around me. Here’s how things changed for me and how you too can start to really live in the moment.

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Chronic illness to 13 mile race in 13 months

Chronic illness to 13 mile race in 13 months

When I think back to what my life was like just over a year ago when I was chronically ill, I still find it hard to believe that by the time you read this, if all goes well, I’ll have completed a 13 mile race. Before I started DNRS just over a year ago, I would go to sleep wondering whether I would be well enough to get out of bed the next morning. So as I write this today I still can’t quite believe that I’ve prepared all my stuff to get up for a half marathon tomorrow! Here’s all about what this means to me and what it could mean to others suffering from mysterious, chronic illnesses – even if they have no intention of ever running a half marathon down the line (I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea :) ).

Photo by Alan Falzon

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Chronic fatigue to 5km race finish in 6 months

Chronic fatigue to 5km race finish in 6 months

I did it! When walking from the sofa to the kitchen used to feel like a marathon, I never thought taking part in a race would be possible again. So crossing the finish line of the #BkaraSJ 5km running race last Tuesday was a dream come true. And I wish to show anyone suffering from mysterious chronic illnesses similar to what I had that they can get their life back through neural retraining as I did.

Photo by Birkirkara St. Joseph Sports Club/Multisport 

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