Excuse the swearing, but holy shit, 5 years!
So much has happened in that time, some of it awesome. Some of it absolutely not. I have no idea who still has this in their feed, but for those that do: hi!
Shall we do the good? I'm in a job that I love, and things are home are as good as always. Short and sweet. Standard life stresses, and standard life rewards.
There are some wonderful standout things:
I was awarded the Microsoft MVP for my developer community work (something I never expected in a million years).
I still get to speak at conferences, and even organised one myself last year!
And I still use all of that as a chance to learn new things, and play with new technologies. Which is also what my job is +/- these days. Looking into how we can use technology to help use in our work, and help our users and their clients. I feel really lucky that I have a boss who trusts me enough to give me a long leash to work on projects outside of the teams - and gives me the chance to excel at what I do in a way that I just can't do in the confines of picking up ticket after ticket from the backlog.
I also wrote a book in the last few years (I'm currently putting the finishing touches to the second edition of it, seeing as technology has moved on past what I did the first time around). It's incredibly stressful, very low paid work - but seeing your name on the spine of a book is mind blowing.
And the bad...
Unfortunately, there has been rather too much of that.
In 2022 I contracted Covid whilst in the UK (my mum did make the most of mothering me for 2 weeks though until I could drive home 😊). Thankfully I was not too sick - just sniffles etc. But there was one big problem, and that stairs (and energy in general). It totally wiped me out.
And for the following 12 months I was pushing myself so hard to get the fitness back that I had lost.
Fast forward a year and I collapsed completely. I got what I thought was a really bad stomach flu and never recovered. Turns out it wasn't stomach flu...
I've been diagnosed with Long Covid, ME (CFS), and POTS. It sucks. Since 2022 I have not been able to work full time, and am now waiting for disability payments as I can't work longer than 24 hours a week (and even that is a push).
Going for days out takes days of rest to prepare myself, renting of a wheelchair, and then days of rest afterwards to recover. My days riding a motorbike, or on roller coasters (or taking a car to racetrack) or behind me and I have to accept this new normal.
I am taking a smörgasbord of pills and potions, and it means that I can now do something at least, but it's limited and not fun at all.
Still, I persevere (what else can I do?) and make the most of what I can do. Speaking of which, I need to get back to work.
If you read this, say hi! I'd love to know how everyone is doing.
Hey, welcome back! I was wondering last month, what you'd been up to and here we are! 👋
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the health issues. That - to use the weird from your opening paragraph - is shit. I hope the lifestyle changes and related are helping you and yours make the best of things 🩷
Congratulations on reaching the MVP award - that's amazing! Ditto on the book. I feel a search online for the details.
L x
Hey! Thanks 😊 Yup, kind of the same, kind of different. I want to get back to this diary type blog again. It was always cathartic and I met the most awesome people.
DeleteHeath is what it is. It could be worse (and I could certainly be in a worse country to have the health issues). But it could also be so much better 🫣
And thanks. When I started speaking I was in awe of those people who got the award and never thought I would be one of them. When I got awarded I screamed at the email 😊 Last year was my 5 year disc and I'm just mind blown by the company I keep through the award (other MVPs tell me off whenever I say that, apparently I'm good at putting myself down 🤣)
Groetjes,
Stace
Years have flown by, darn virus did not help.
ReplyDeleteThat litany of problems makes my loss of much sense of taste and smell seem like nothing. The one thing I have to say is that since I gave up all carbohydrates, seed oils and the very few processed foods I would occasionally eat, my health has improved in more ways than I can remember and the bags of pills I used to take are just a feint memory! Worth trying at least.
My nephew, also working in Holland, also contracted the Long Covid and is only now getting over it so do not give up hope.
Blogger messed up my blogs so that is why nobody hears from me any more...
I never lost my taste (I was born without smell, so that one I would never know 🫣), but what I heard from people who did makes me glad I kept it. I can't imagine eating, but only having texture, not taste.
DeleteI have a few doctors helping, and eat well enough, so aside from having to accept this as me new normal, I'm doing what I can. Thanks for the tips!
The time taken for recovery is just mind blowing. And all around we hear still hear that covid isn't that bad, and there is nothing to it. My chronically ill besties would like to disagree 😅
I'm sorry blogger messed up your blog, the effort and feelings that we put into them, it's painful if that is lost.
Such a lovely gift to have your post here - a published author! - but then such sad news. I had to look up those acronyms and cringed each time. Your attitude is what I would have expected - you are getting on with everything as much as you can. Well Done Stace.
ReplyDeleteI have a copy of my book in my studio (how is that for self absorbed), and each time I see it I'm still shocked that I managed to do something like that 😊 It really brings a smile to my face. And the reviews I got helped me realise that maybe I'm not as bad as I think I am. I hope the 2nd edition is met with the same reception. My boss asked me if I was proud when it was published. I said no - who knew if it was good. The reviews did make me proud though.
DeleteAs for getting on with it. I try. The fact that I love my job and hobbies is both a blessing and a curse. I want to do them! But I also go too far (I'm writing this when I should be collapsed in bed recovering from work 🫣). I guess I'm also lucky that whilst I am in a bad way, I can push through it somewhat - even if I pay later. I know people who can't even do that - that must be terrible.
Thanks for the words,
Stace