As a fellow thyroid-autoimmune-chronic illness of mysterious origin recipient, I’m nodding!
For me, I’ve decided I’m likely not ever going to ‘get to the bottom of it’ and ‘heal’, but rather am learning how to support my body and mind to be the best it can be on each day. This feels like a better choice for my mental health these days! It’s a challenge at times to actually validate that I have real physical limitations that are not just in my head, but perhaps this is just another rebellion against the status quo of gogogo culture that we live in? Maybe I’m just a resting activist 😉 (if you don’t laugh you’ll cry right?! 😂) xx
Just getting back to my inbox after a break and I really love this response Bec. If I'm being perfectly honest with myself, I haven't reached a point of complete acceptance yet, and am still going through periods of investigation, but having parts that I accept for what they are has definitely lessened the burden. Such a balancing act isn't it?
Also, as Shiree said - sign me up to 'resting activist' status!! 💚
This is so beautiful and heartfelt Brooke. I absolutely love the distinction between healing and recovery. I’ll take that with me! Although not in any way as tough as your journey I was just thinking the other day how following my burnout I’m a very changed person. Even after doing ‘all the right things’, taking it slowly, I still don’t feel like I have the same energy levels or resilience. Your healing/recovery thoughts make me realise that maybe I never will, and that’s ok. Interestingly, I actually dread the thought of living like I once did and don’t want that old life back. It also makes me think more generally of aging and those wonderfully wise people who just embrace life where they are rather than wishing for a return to the past.
Thank you for sharing some of your journey. I imagine meeting you in the street to say ‘hi’ and give you a hug 🤗 I wish you strength on the hard days and that you will continue to grow in wisdom and awareness of what your body needs. Look after yourself, Brooke 💚
Thank you Brooke, it is so helpful to read your insightful reflections on healing. I am going through something similar myself - very slowly learning to listen to my body and prioritise rest when I need it and accept that “recovery” may not actually happen. Reading this gives me confidence that I’m on the right track!
From one garden nerd to another. I also echo Carolyn's comments and imagine saying Hi to you in the street and giving you a hug. You've certainly helped many of us with your wise words over the years, so it's time for us to give some back to you. Thanks for being so open and vulnerable and creating this safe community. Enjoy the rest of the school holidays and hoping your energy is in a good place. Take care xx
Thank you for sharing such a a personal story in such a public space. Love your thoughts on healing and recovery. And as for the roses (or any garden/nature photos) keep them coming because I enjoy every single one ♥️
Dear Brooke - thankyou for being you and for creating this little corner of the internet that feels so safe and as real as it can be without actually being so!
I’m a hair-splitter from way back and I think that the distinction between healing and recovery is very powerful indeed. Understanding and accepting the difference would probably help the healing process immensely, I feel, by removing the pressure to ‘recover’ a previous, not necessarily better, state.
Enjoy the school holidays. I’m onto the next generation with lots of grandchildren time - so precious 🤗
Thanks so much for being so open and sharing what you have been / are going through. I’m sorry it’s been such a journey, but the lessons and growth sound invaluable. With love and gratitude. Xx
🫶🏽 What an awesome reframing of this chapter of your life, Brooke!! I love the healing versus recovering perspective - words mean things, hon!! And you use words beautifully!! Thank you!! And enjoy that QT with the kids!! ❤️
How pertinent as I lie in bed willing myself to recover from a very nasty round of covid. To say I feel depleted is an understatement. My husband & I have both been knocked sideways & IN BED sleeping this past week with barely any energy apart from a couple of messages here & there.
For him, this is unusual. He so rarely gets sick. For me it’s yet another example of ‘Tiffany getting sick’ which is something that has plagued me my entire adult life. I got bronchitis in year 12 (1985, so go ahead & do the maths) & every year I push through a varying number of coughs/colds/chest infections/pneumonia/flus etc etc. My GP & I have been on first names basis for a number of years now!!
This is NOT an exaggeration, it’s my actual life and every single time I bemoan that I am doing everything right & shouldn’t be sick.
I eat loads of veggies, I exercise most days, I stretch my body, I don’t eat junk food. I drink broths and lots & lots of water.
My husband eats precisely 3 vegetables only. He doesn’t really exercise. He doesn’t drink water.
And yet, here in lies the irony - he so rarely gets sick & I on the other hand always do.
Thank you for reminding me to perhaps focus on healing rather than recovering. I like how you have put it & it certainly sounds like a much kinder way to work through seasons of lesser health.
Brooke, thankyou for your honest description of the healing process. I had my thyroid removed in 2018 and have spent a long time working out how to navigate this process. Your words have really helped me a lot. Thank you
As a fellow thyroid-autoimmune-chronic illness of mysterious origin recipient, I’m nodding!
For me, I’ve decided I’m likely not ever going to ‘get to the bottom of it’ and ‘heal’, but rather am learning how to support my body and mind to be the best it can be on each day. This feels like a better choice for my mental health these days! It’s a challenge at times to actually validate that I have real physical limitations that are not just in my head, but perhaps this is just another rebellion against the status quo of gogogo culture that we live in? Maybe I’m just a resting activist 😉 (if you don’t laugh you’ll cry right?! 😂) xx
Just getting back to my inbox after a break and I really love this response Bec. If I'm being perfectly honest with myself, I haven't reached a point of complete acceptance yet, and am still going through periods of investigation, but having parts that I accept for what they are has definitely lessened the burden. Such a balancing act isn't it?
Also, as Shiree said - sign me up to 'resting activist' status!! 💚
'A resting activist', I love it, sign me up
Me too!! 😊💚
This is so beautiful and heartfelt Brooke. I absolutely love the distinction between healing and recovery. I’ll take that with me! Although not in any way as tough as your journey I was just thinking the other day how following my burnout I’m a very changed person. Even after doing ‘all the right things’, taking it slowly, I still don’t feel like I have the same energy levels or resilience. Your healing/recovery thoughts make me realise that maybe I never will, and that’s ok. Interestingly, I actually dread the thought of living like I once did and don’t want that old life back. It also makes me think more generally of aging and those wonderfully wise people who just embrace life where they are rather than wishing for a return to the past.
Thank you for sharing some of your journey. I imagine meeting you in the street to say ‘hi’ and give you a hug 🤗 I wish you strength on the hard days and that you will continue to grow in wisdom and awareness of what your body needs. Look after yourself, Brooke 💚
Thank you Brooke, it is so helpful to read your insightful reflections on healing. I am going through something similar myself - very slowly learning to listen to my body and prioritise rest when I need it and accept that “recovery” may not actually happen. Reading this gives me confidence that I’m on the right track!
From one garden nerd to another. I also echo Carolyn's comments and imagine saying Hi to you in the street and giving you a hug. You've certainly helped many of us with your wise words over the years, so it's time for us to give some back to you. Thanks for being so open and vulnerable and creating this safe community. Enjoy the rest of the school holidays and hoping your energy is in a good place. Take care xx
Thank you for sharing such a a personal story in such a public space. Love your thoughts on healing and recovery. And as for the roses (or any garden/nature photos) keep them coming because I enjoy every single one ♥️
Dear Brooke - thankyou for being you and for creating this little corner of the internet that feels so safe and as real as it can be without actually being so!
I’m a hair-splitter from way back and I think that the distinction between healing and recovery is very powerful indeed. Understanding and accepting the difference would probably help the healing process immensely, I feel, by removing the pressure to ‘recover’ a previous, not necessarily better, state.
Enjoy the school holidays. I’m onto the next generation with lots of grandchildren time - so precious 🤗
Thank you Brooke. A wonderful way to look at healing vs recovery. Hope your healing journey continues 💕
Thanks so much for being so open and sharing what you have been / are going through. I’m sorry it’s been such a journey, but the lessons and growth sound invaluable. With love and gratitude. Xx
🫶🏽 What an awesome reframing of this chapter of your life, Brooke!! I love the healing versus recovering perspective - words mean things, hon!! And you use words beautifully!! Thank you!! And enjoy that QT with the kids!! ❤️
I love this idea of healing over recovery. Thanks for sharing it. Sending healing vibes.
How pertinent as I lie in bed willing myself to recover from a very nasty round of covid. To say I feel depleted is an understatement. My husband & I have both been knocked sideways & IN BED sleeping this past week with barely any energy apart from a couple of messages here & there.
For him, this is unusual. He so rarely gets sick. For me it’s yet another example of ‘Tiffany getting sick’ which is something that has plagued me my entire adult life. I got bronchitis in year 12 (1985, so go ahead & do the maths) & every year I push through a varying number of coughs/colds/chest infections/pneumonia/flus etc etc. My GP & I have been on first names basis for a number of years now!!
This is NOT an exaggeration, it’s my actual life and every single time I bemoan that I am doing everything right & shouldn’t be sick.
I eat loads of veggies, I exercise most days, I stretch my body, I don’t eat junk food. I drink broths and lots & lots of water.
My husband eats precisely 3 vegetables only. He doesn’t really exercise. He doesn’t drink water.
And yet, here in lies the irony - he so rarely gets sick & I on the other hand always do.
Thank you for reminding me to perhaps focus on healing rather than recovering. I like how you have put it & it certainly sounds like a much kinder way to work through seasons of lesser health.
Happy school holidays with the family.
Tiffany
Brooke, thankyou for your honest description of the healing process. I had my thyroid removed in 2018 and have spent a long time working out how to navigate this process. Your words have really helped me a lot. Thank you
So relate! xxx