Treading Water

Not sure if any of the old crew still check on my profile (probably not since so many come and go year in and year out) but I am just checking in to say I am still a WA member and have not given up on the dream.

I have a history of health issues including various physiological symptoms as well as major depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and who knows what other labels and diagnoses.But of course, I don't let them define and control me.

I started out at WA really excited but also pretty desperate. I was unemployed and nearly an invalid due to muscular issues and near-daily migraines. That stuff is better now but I've spent the last 2 years in treatment for depression and anxiety, and just haven't been able to do much other than my 8-5 and turn into a vegetable in my chair when I get home.

The fact that I have a job, though, is a tribute to modern psychiatry and my determination to never give up. I've been working now for a year and a half and am just now feeling like I have hope again.

The point of all this is to say that it's ok not to rush things. I typically hate cliches, but it really is the journey and not the destination that's important. What we learn at WA can change our lives, but we also can't measure success by numbers (finances, web traffic, followers, etc).

We have to measure it by the amount of confidence we have that we are doing the right thing in life. Taking care of ourselves and our families, becoming better and more understanding people, and constantly developing skills that will enable us to help others and sustain our own ways of life.

I am not sure when I am going to be spending a lot more time on WA (and more importantly, my website) but you can bet that when I do I'll be all in. I know some people would look at me and see 10 years wasted, but I've done the best I could and made some difficult decisions to get to where I am.

Life is really tough, for some more than others. But don't give up.