Keeping the Pace: Gout teaches you how to be flexible

I have been thinking about blogging for well over a year now.  Prompted by my love to write, a very successful blog by a old neighborhood friend, Mrs. Fatass, and my good friend and neighbor kicking out a few from time to time, here's the first.  Incidentally, I have a little time on my hands at the moment since a gout attack coupled with a bout of cellulitis in my left foot have got me off of my feet for a few days.

We all make plans.  We all have things that we look forward to.  We negotiate each day, working and getting our ducks in a row so that when the time comes to execute our plan, we are able to.  In my case, this little protocol doesn't always pan out quite that way.  I can't count how many times I have gone to bed anxious and excited because I had an activity or event that I have looked forward to, and then I wake up the next morning with that familiar ache in my foot - Gout. 

I have tried everything.  Limiting my diet.  Quitting drinking.  Taking pills.  Increasing my water intake.  Still, it rears it's ugly head.  I had my first flareup when I was about 25 and gradually it seems to get a little worse as I get older.  In retrospect, I should have done a lot more to mitigate the severity of my condition but I thought I was invincible.  That's a condition that afflicts everyone in their youth, I think.

I don't brood over what I could have done different, though.  I don't have time for that.  At 39 years old, I have done a lot of pretty amazing and exciting things in the 11 years since I moved from the Flint area to start over in Alaska.  I have hiked to the base of Denali across gorgeous country, walked glaciers, handled and ran sled dogs, traveled to some beautiful areas in search of nothing but the experience and I am not done.  Not even close!  A little obstacle to my mobility isn't enough to kill my spirits or my dreams.

Sometimes you have to adjust for life's unexpected curve balls.  I realized a long time ago how important a good attitude and positive outlook is in determining the quality of my life.  Whoever said to make lemonade when life hands you lemons was a genius.  I think that it is sad that so many people don't really believe that in their hearts and let blind acceptance of their life's lot keep them miserable - and unproductive. 

So sure...I wanted to do plenty this week and weekend.  It's probably not going to happen, but I have to look at my alternatives and embrace them as my reality.  I think it's pretty neat that I finally had some time to start a blog.  I have been wanting to, so why not now?  I can't get high because of my job, so I'm really digging the pain pills I have at the moment.  I finally sat down and addressed making plans for an upcoming vacation that I may have put off.  Turns out I got the last available room and never would have gotten that if I had waited. 

So you see, it's all in the perspective.  I could have been bummed out about not visiting my friends or working on my new home.  Instead, I think some really positive things have come from this forced down time, and I am glad.