Remembering the Light and Joy of the Season whilst on Dialysis
The festive season can be a stressful time on dialysis. Concerns over diet, fluid restrictions, meeting (potentially sick) relatives from around the country are all on the mind.
And this is on top of the seasonal to do list: Buying Presents, Wrapping Presents, Christmas Cards, Decorations, attending Social Events etc.
However, today, after coming home from a particularly long day at the hospital, I saw that my dad had put up the Christmas Tree and was instantly filled with joy for the season: childhood memories and recent years too but also the missed years during the Pandemic.
In an effort to keep up with my 12 days of winter blogging challenge. I shall leave you with the wonderful sentiments by Wendy Cope in her 2001 "The Christmas Life" poem.
I read this poem whilst I was waiting to see the doctor last week. I felt struck with serendipity. Today I returned home to the sight of the bare but plucky emerald fir tree. The nostalgia of Christmas welled up within me and I felt so festive that the stresses of the day melted away and the qualms over social distancing and eating appropriately all felt so much more manageable.
So here's a small reminder that Christmas is around the corner!
A season that may represent to a common dialysis patient: breaks in routine, excessive consumption, 'excessive socialising' and perhaps even some sad moments when you realise that you are not quite the same as you once was a few Christmases ago but I remind you now to not let that stop you from finding the small joys in the season.
Warm Wishes, Lai x
