Aiyiyi - how did I miss this message? Lusaka was all-consuming with unreliable internet, but that's no excuse. Sorry about your back ๐ข๐ข. I curse thee, pestilential lawn mower, for hurting the great and gentle Ellie Mae in such a way!
Yes, I do understand. I've just finished reading an incredible book which gets to the heart of pressing on and surviving. If you have a chance to pick it up in your amazing library, I highly recommend it. It's called "A House in the Sky" by Amanda Lindhout, and it's the autobiographical story of a Canadian journalist who gets abducted and held for ransom in Somalia for 15 months. I'm sure you'd be able to relate to her experiences, although I truly hope you've never been through anything like what she went through.
I hope you and yours had a lovely and peaceful Easter. Much love ๐๐
Oh Kiligirl, I am starting to feel better... finally. However, not being able to do things has made me so grumpy! I am no fun to live with right now. They call me Forest Gump in these parts, because one of my favorite things to do is mow. It clears my head completely, leaving me smiling from ear to ear. Perhaps my crabbiness stems from the fact that a lot of intrusive thoughts have taken over my brain and I no longer have an outlet to let off the steem! Never ever try to pick up a lawnmower by yourself, that is my lifeโs lesson for today.
Thank you for the book recommendation I will see if our little library carries โA House in the Skyโ it sounds like a good read.
May the winds of glory and good fortune be at your back today as you carry on with your mission. Much Love to you your pal Ellie Mae โค๏ธ๐๐
So glad you're starting to feel better, Ellie Mae aka Forest Gump! โค๏ธ๏ธ We carry these physical (and other) pains around with us for so long we tend to forget how the weight affects our resilience. Been thinking a lot about resilience these days - how to build it, how to nurture it, how not to let pain affect it but rather feed it (haven't mastered that one yet!!). It sounds like mowing is one of your resilience builders! And yes, if there's someone around who looks like they can lift a lawnmower better than you, put 'em on the job ๐.
I hope you find the book. Would love to discuss it with you!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your supportive wishes. They mean so much! We're at that stage where we still can't see the funding coming in (so close, but so far), but the savings are down to the last few months. This is one of the reasons I'm thinking so much about resilience, and focus on the objective - going back to the time that group of us climbed Kilimanjaro and reached the summit...one foot in front of the other, eyes on the summit. Before you think that was when I was young and fit, it was just 9 years ago (so ixnay on the oungyay) and let's just say that nobody would have mistaken me for an Olympic athlete ๐๐. It was all about attitude - some would say mental, emotional and/or spiritual strength. Believing we would do it somehow banished any negative thoughts. Now, in this situation, believing we will do it is critical. Every drop of support you send makes an immense difference...so thank you, thank you, thank you. Much love back - your Kiligirl friend ๐๐
I am so missing both you and your niece @lynb. Itโs been over 4 months since we have heard from you and I would love to know of your progress. Missing you both more than you know. โค๏ธ๐๐