When One Door Closes...

 

I have always been very fortunate with health so I am not complaining at all, but it was a bit of a shock. I had travelled all over the world, much of it on my own, and loved it. So when I found that travel, as I knew it, would be difficult, it felt like the beginning of the end.

For 4 weeks I just stayed in the house. I was exhausted all the time, feeling a bit sad, and a little afraid of what might happen if I ventured out into the big wide world. I felt my focus had to be on my physical health.

But I forgot the most important health... my emotional one. I had never been one for staying inside, always preferring open spaces, nature, lakes and beaches. Also, although I loved my little 400 year old cottage, the tiny windows made it dark throughout the whole day. I knew I had to come up with a plan.

First I had to stabilise my physical health, go to the doctors, hospital, etc. Take the medication. Rest when I needed. The hardest thing for me was accepting my much awaited operation, would have to be postponed. 

A few years ago, while staying in a Buddhist Monastery I was caring sacks of rice (yes I know 60 year olds should know better!). Unfortunately, I tore my meniscus quite badly and I needed a total knee replacement.

This meant I couldn't walk very far so, for now, I had to accept things as they are and make a plan to keep myself happy until life could, hopefully, return to some sort of normality, I decided to create an adventure book of all the things that I would love to do. Maybe not quite climbing up Everest, but there are still millions of things to do and places to see that would make me happy.

We are fortunate to live in a beautiful country so I decided to focus on what is close by, rather than flying half way around the world! I started writing a book of all the wonderful things I could do for the next year.

My starting point was joining the National Trust, which costs less than a hundred pounds per year. This gives entry to around 500 historical properties and delightful gardens including Dunster Castle, The Giants Causeway and Hill Top Farm, the home of Beatrix Potter. Car parking is, generally, free so even if I am not having a great day I can sit in my car and imagine all the wonderful history:)

I added to my book  many places I had promised myself I would visit... one day. Somehow that 'one day' didn't happen but now here I am with a whole year to explore them! Durdle Door, The Minnack Theatre, Shakespeares Globe Theatre, The Lake District, Westminster Abbey, Exmoor, The Isles of Scilly. My list was becoming very lengthy!

Of course, the chances of me visiting them all is very slim, but the reason for making the adventure book was about hope. Hope for the future. Somewhere I could look forward to going, somewhere I could dream about. Hope that, even at my age with some health issues, I could still find purpose, enjoyment and joy.

Life is not over until it is over. We may have to modify what we do, may need to alter how we do it, but that is the challenge and in a way, half the fun :) Whatever life has in store for me I hope to live, really live, until the very last day! Lily x