Deb Chalmers

It’s taken me an awfully long time to get to this point And like a pendulum, I’m sure things will swing again. Acceptance isn’t about giving up. It’s about making a conscious choice about how you want to spend your energy. It’s about focusing on what you can do and not what you can not.

The world we believe in is the world we live in

Don’t let your struggle become your identity … something to ponder as I stare into the flames on this chilly winters night

“Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got.” Janis Joplin Looking after ourselves is not selfish. Rest, boundaries, saying no, choosing what matters, all of it counts. You matter too. 🧡 #SelfCare #kindness Art by anxiety.positive

They shouldn’t have to explain their disability to every single person who asks …

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Ferris Bueller’s Day Off It’s May already. Life moves and sometimes we forget to pause. Today is a reminder to choose something that looks after you. 🧡 #kindness #SelfCare Art by positively present

You don’t realise how ableist the world is until you’re on the other side … #ButYouDontLookSick

Another productive day learning new things, reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and getting on with my #conferenceknitting at ANZICS Regional Scientific Meeting, superbly organised by the team at MMH Critical Care Complex. @anzics.bsky.social

Sometimes you have to just embrace the insomnia and go for a predawn walk at the river. Refreshing for the soul 🥶 and what a gorgeous sunrise

Boundaries don’t cause conflict. They are there to keep you safe. They highlight a conflict that was already brewing under the surface. If you get that uneasy feeling everytime you interact with someone maybe it’s time to start listening to your inner wisdom. Is it time to move on?

I’m sort of sad my tomatoes and peppers are done for the season. I’m not a huge fan of summer (too hot), but the garden has certainly been productive. I spent today making tasting green tomato salsa to eat later in winter, reminded of the bounty, that will return just around the corner …

Following on from #RareDiseasesDay a few weeks ago, I’d like to bring your attention to a group called IgG4ward, and IgG4 awareness day on 4th April. They do an incredible amount of advocacy for this rare disease.

Trying to resist pressing “add to cart” for the squishy yarn I’ve just discovered on sale … I DO NOT NEED MORE YARN EVEN if I’m under the weather & knitting is about all I can manage right now, I may have one or two surplus balls of squish already … Now seeds on the other hand …

Thank you, past self, for saving this quote as it was just the thing that current self needed to see today. Hopefully it means that future tomorrow self will be a bit more compassionate and kind when things don’t go quite as she had planned or hoped.

Today is Long Covid Awareness Day: I know there’s a lot going on in the world right now, but please don’t scroll past this one! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_CO...

The in-between is always hard, and it’s okay to feel mixed emotions.

Only now do I understand the beautiful tension between the peace you find in the darkness with the soft sounds for comfort, stars twinkling; and the isolation & worry & fear that plagues your thoughts. This witching hour for those living with chronic illness, where both states coexist.

Some days are harder than they need to be. And some days you’re reminded that people are good and decent and kind. And the most unexpected people will show up for you when you’re having a hard day. Sometimes the hardest part is to ask for help. Life gets a whole lot simpler after that.

Maybe all you ever did, all you ever learned was to prepare for this moment in the darkness. For this moment when you are not sure what to do or how to take the next step. Maybe you’ve spent your whole life preparing for this moment and you just didn’t know it … You are strong #LearningToBe

Sometimes:

People think being disabled is like being on vacation They say “you’re lucky! I wish I didn’t have to work!” Most of us would love to work. We would love to get out of bed. We would love to not be forced into legislated poverty Imagine your worst sick day on repeat forever That’s chronic illness

Thanks @viridescentfrog.bsky.social for highlighting this blog This is an unsaid thing in medicine, especially acute jobs with shift work: It’s slowly killing us mikerubinmd.substack.com/p/why-emerge...

Anyone can become disabled. Anyone can become chronically ill. It’s not a choice. It’s not a moral failing. It’s not something you can “try harder” your way out of. You can be the healthiest person in the world & completely disabled in an instant. It’s a minority group you can join anytime.

Some days I am reminded about the fragility of life. Of the impermanence of this world and the way we are in it. There is no tomorrow. There is only now. This moment. This time. This breath. Tell the people you love that you love them. Stand with your feet on the fresh wet grass. Be.

Sometimes peace comes from simply refusing to carry what was never yours to hold. Protect your energy. Protect your mind. Not everything deserves space in your spirit. 🌿 #ProtectYourPeace #EmotionalWellness #MindfulLiving #PositiveEnergy #LetGoAndGrow #InnerPeace

It’s Kranky Panky Awareness Month. Guts Charity do some great work.

Working on my 1000 hours…

Reminder...

You don't have to be positive all the time. It's perfectly okay to feel safe, angry, annoyed, frustrated, scared, or anxious. Having feelings doesn't make you a negative person. It makes you human.😊

The kindness of strangers amazes me sometimes. A small thing for them - such a big deal for me. Thank you, universe, for taking care of me today. #LearningToBe

A reminder

A reminder

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Ralph Waldo Emerson It’s your life. It doesn’t need to make sense to anyone else. You’re allowed to live it your way. 🧡 #kindness #positivity Picture by @Anxiety.Positive

There are only 3 things you can control - ever. 1. What you think right now about what’s happening 2. It’s what you do or don’t do 3. You get to control how you react to your own emotions in this moment. Read that again. Only 3 things you can ever control.

You can’t heal in the place* that made you sick *may or may not be the physical place #LearningToBe

Some days it’s hard to remember. Make a conscious effort to celebrate the wins … !