http://www.npr.org/2011/01/31/132675079/learning-to-live-a-full-life-with-chronic-illness
The story begins with a persistent illness:
...The infection has left me mostly house-bound and often bed-bound.
It took me almost six years to find my way back to a life of fulfillment and joy. The journey started
when I looked more deeply at the Buddha's first noble truth:
Everyone's life has its share of both joy and suffering.
Resisting the plain fact of my illness only added mental suffering to the physical suffering.
And so I got out my well-worn Buddhist books. And I remembered something a teacher had said:
"If your compassion doesn't include yourself, it is incomplete."
This was a turning point for me. I began to direct compassion towards myself. Slowly but surely, I stopped blaming myself for getting sick.
I also took up a Buddhist practice called:
Mudita: cultivating joy in the joy of others.
One of the toughest challenges was accepting isolation. At first, my loneliness was palpable. But over time, I came to recognize that the word "isolation" is neutral. It's just the fact of being alone. I learned to open my heart and mind to being by myself. Now I love watching the seasons unfold right outside my bedroom window. I even appreciate that no one is making demands on my time!
Summary: You need to adjust your attitude to your changed situation and to be creative in communicating with others, like using the Internet. Likewise, you need to find engaging activities that remain possible with your reduced energy levels.
Toni Bernhard's Book
How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers
By Toni Bernhard
Paperback, 216 pages
Wisdom Publications
List price: $15.95
Read An Excerpt
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