20 March 2024

One of these days, I swear, I am going to start writing that book, the ultimate guide to living with a shitty disease and I'll start with the chapter on how I went on a 15 km walk because I was so very mad at the world and all the unsolved problems in my life and the loneliness of being ill and I may include some of the pictures I took of the sweeping views across the hills and the newly born lambs kicking their little legs on the field and the first fresh leaves of the beech saplings down low in the forest and in the next chapter, I will list the thoughts that rushed through my mind, briefly, before I found the rhythm of my steps and my breath and how after a while, I was humming, some melody, barely melodious, more like counting steps, and how the sound of the windproof jacket as my arms were swishing back and forth, back and forth made me realise that nothing matters and that everything matters and that I can handle it, have always been able to handle it, the whole brilliant, miserable, frightening, amazing catastrophe of my life, how I love it.


9 comments:

Pixie said...

A long walk is always a good thing, but I am impressed with 15km. I don't know if I could do that anymore. Walking helps me let go of things, to appreciate the sky and the trees, and my very small part in this world.

Chronic illness sucks, sending hugs.

Ms. Moon said...

So beautiful.

am said...

In Wanderlust: A History of Walking, Rebecca Solnit wrote, "I like walking because it is slow, and I suspect that the mind, like the feet, works at about three miles an hour."


Your post today is a good start on your book. I'm getting ready for one of those walks up the hill and into the woods, inevitably affecting my thinking in a positive way. My mind works best at 3 miles an hour.

ellen abbott said...

you are an inspiration!

Steve Reed said...

I'd buy that book proposal!

Kim S. said...

Beautiful! Please write. You have a honed gift of compiling words. That's one reason why I keep coming back here. I too have a chronic disease (MS) but it is not as troublesome as your disease seems to be, though I'm using rollator walker now and can't walk very far or very fast, so I live through blog photos like yours! Chronic conditions are very tiring emotionally and physically. Glad you found solace during a long walk in fresh air. Kim In PA (USA)

Pam J. said...

Yes, write that book. You wrote an amazing sentence and I'll come back to it often. Glad I found you.

jozien said...

beautiful Sabine.

Colette said...

This is you at your absolute best. Wow.