Iconic
Symbolism is all around us, and you only need to lift your eyelashes once to be immediately inspired. Iconic. My left foot is indeed something of an iconic thing that is hell-bent on creating trouble. Past ruptures of Achilles tendons, flipping ankles, falling over my own feet… they have seen and done it all. However, when I was told I would have to start wearing ‘proper’ shoes and that I would have to add special insoles to stabilize my left foot, I had to rethink my existing shoe wardrobe yet again. Ballerina shoes, Converse All Stars, high heels, flip-flops and Uggs do not make good footwear, at least not when your feet have a mind of their own. Apparently, Clarks shoes would not be suitable anymore either, and since I…
Invictus, by William Ernest Henley
Invictus Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. (William Ernest Henley 1849-1903) (At the age of 12, Henley contracted tuberculosis of the bone. A few years later, the disease progressed to his foot, and…
2012: not the end of the world
It’s been an eventful year, and even though there are still 3,5 weeks to go before we enter 2013, I can safely say that this year was one of personal growth and finding myself. Personal growth involves letting go of things you don’t want to clutter your mind, and perhaps ups and downs need to be part of that package also. Somehow inner strength – still wondering where it came from – and hope has kept me walking with my head held high. I’ve learned that yes, I am alternative and it’s OK to be so, not in a punk, anarchist kind of way, but I refuse to be put in one type of box because there’s more to myself than blindly following the crowd to be accepted. I’ve never…
In the blink of an eye…
© Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me, 2011-2012. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Attacking disabilities…
© Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me, 2011-2012. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Letting go
Life seems like a joke, out to get you when you least expect it. People disappear from your life, but it’s not until after they’re gone that you realise how much you liked being around them. Or, you understand what being truly happy means because you’ve known absolute sadness. Or you start appreciating silence because you know how loud, annoying and horrible noise can be. Life seems like a joke so; it makes you learn lessons by applying the opposite of what you want. Life is a joke in an ironic way. Murphy’s Law had it in for me years ago. Anything that could go wrong went totally wrong. In the space of 3.5 years I lost part of myself (thank you MS!), and my only sibling, stepdad and four other…
MS fatigue… the invisible monster
MS fatigue… The most common, yet most difficult to detect a symptom in multiple sclerosis. Aside from feeling exhausted, having to explain people over and over how different it is to normal tiredness, you often get a stigma assigned of “yeah, yeah, you’re just being lazy” or “sure, now keep walking, it’s probably not that bad.” Not everyone will express their opinion out loud, but people will think about why you’re “just not making a bit more of an effort”. MS fatigue is more or less an invisible symptom and it’s hard to explain exactly what it feels like. Some people will stop talking, walking or you will notice changes in their behaviour. Unlike normal tiredness fit people feel after exercising or working 8h a day, MS fatigue is an…