in the midst of suffering-how or what do u do 2 find joy?

My first like automatic response is to have a b----/fest-LOL!!!

I HAVE to remember my faith, and hold strong to my belief of a life ever-lasting. I also listen to faith-based music. These lyrics REALLY encourge me...

"There shall come a day, with no more tears, no more pain..."

People.

Whether ill/suffering or not the joy is other humans. Whether it's deeply loved family member or an acquaintance at work.

It's the whole point of this thing called life. For those moments engaging with them I forget about lyme and all the horrible things it's doing.

Because I'm still having the experience whether sick with lyme or not. The interaction/experience is still real.

Were all different, you just gotta try doing what you like. Sometimes that might be just taking a nap!!

Since unfortunately having worked with many irritating people in my life, I like to take a break from the population when possible. ha ha! which means a nature retreat. I need it. If I won the lottery, (didn't need to work), that's wear I'd go. C-ya.

The smell of a pine forest, sound of a clear rocky steam, a calm lake, eagle watching, I'm lucky this is all within 5 miles of home and there's lots more if I keep driving. When just walking was difficult, Id go to the beach, fishing pier, boat launch with a lawn chair just to be close to water and not far from the car. I woke up at 4AM this morning to the deep sound of an owl hooting in the back yard, it was actually pretty cool. If I could only train him to do that a few hours later, it would be the most comforting alarm clock around.

There's endless musical talent on you tube. Some awesome acoustic artists there that I would have otherwise never discovered. Your favorite comedy can brighten your day too.

My 2 dogs keep me going every day. Annoying retro pop music from the 70's and 80's and my sense of humour. I lived near the sea for a while...i would love to go back to that, something about dead calm and crashing waves, heals my soul

Alyeska, I smile because I can see the Alps from this computer room I'm writing.

When you get a bit better and would like to come, we can take a cup of tea or coffee together, drive 50 minutes and walk its slopes up to beautiful highland lakes, in the middle of Swiss cows with bells and all!

I got visits from a few lyme visitors from America, that I had never met before!!
Just like that...

Lyme almost killed me and almost handicapped my daughter.

The moment I realized it was over - no more energy to even open my eyes... and surrendered, accepted my death and started seeing scenes from my early childhood till present time , well, that was the turning point in my lyme journey.

Since that day - the bottom line, worst day of my life - I feel like re-born again, almost literally from ashes.

Since that day, I promised that if lyme was going to take my life, it was NOT going to be without a BIG fight.

So I always believed I could get better, IF it did not kill me.

And it didn't kill me.

It was hard, but I never lost a single minute of hope: while I was still breathing, I always kept hoping and tried to look positively.

It was anyway positive, even all the suffering, the horrors, it was positive just because I knew I was still alive and fighting.

I do think that positive attitude is not just a tiny part in healing.
It was for me, the MOST important part.

It was the fuel that allowed me to always keep going and saying 'the worst is in the past', which was true, totally true: the worst, was that exact moment when I thought it was the absolute end.

If I could still open my eyes, even walk again, go out again and look at the sunlight again, wow, these were huge steps. Pain or no pain, I was still alive!

Lyme is long gone for us, but the experience remains.
Memory remains.
But also, a great inner strength I think, was born from those years of fight.

Jo - I wish there was a "like" button for your post.

There's my kitties and I watch a lot of uplifting Christian tv network programs.

I'm lacking family support, as they are busy with their lives. Christian shows kind if fill that void for me.