I Heart Macro 60

a walk near the edge

life floats as winter recedes

memories of spring

Sorry for the late post this week, but with the kids away, lets just say my husband and I have been enjoying having the house to ourselves, and well some things take priority over posting a link up on time. These are still photos from earlier this year.

Now that I've had three doses of IV steroids there is discernible improvement. I am less dizzy, and I am able to walk again with a steady gait, albeit slower than my normal pace. This morning with my husband, we walked our usual neighborhood route. We traveled the whole 4.6 mi loop and my back and hips didn't start spasming until we were very close to the house. It was a glorious morning and I felt safe walking that far with Gordon by my side. I knew that if I couldn't make it, I could sit on the side of the road and wait for him to go home and bring the car, but it wasn't necessary. Hooray! My voice comes and goes; dysarthric to an accent to me and then drifts back into garbled speech. I have less pain, though my muscles are still quite tight from spasticity. I have been riding my stationary bike and practicing yoga every afternoon for about two hours total, and of course I meditate and pray each morning after waking. All of this sustains and strengthens my spirit and body and is helping to regain flexibility in my limbs again. Words are still blurry making reading difficult. And a new strange symptom arose after the two-hour MRI on Thursday; I am partially deaf in one ear. We are hoping that will reverse itself soon. If not I will have to see an ENT doctor next week to see if anything can be done. 

I imagine I will find out the results of the MRI I next week and if there are any lesions on my spine. I've only had them in my brain so far. All in all I am grateful for gradual healing. I am fortunate to have Relapsing Remitting MS and not a rapidly progressive form as some of my friends do. I do not take this twist of fate for granted and my heart aches for them as they loose function so much more quickly than me; once lost, it does not return. In my case, some symptoms stay continuously while others abate when I go into remission again. With this in mind/heart:

I just watched this film and wanted to share a link to it with you. It is raw and real, inspiring, heartbreaking and opening. While it is not my story,  I certainly found traces of my experiences in Jason's, both physically, emotionally and the day-to-day stuff. Even if you are not disabled yourself, someday you will get older and getting around won't be so easy. We live in human vessels, we are fragile, no one will be healthy forever. I think you will be able to connect with the humility, courage and humanity of Jason and his amazing wife Alice. I hope you will watch it.

"Jason DaSilva was 25 years old and a rising independent filmmaker when a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis changed everything — and inspired him to make another film. When I Walk is a candid and brave chronicle of one young man’s struggle to adapt to the harsh realities of M.S. while holding on to his personal and creative life. With his body growing weaker, DaSilva’s spirits, and his film, get a boost from his mother’s tough love and the support of Alice Cook, who becomes his wife and filmmaking partner. The result is a life-affirming documentary filled with unexpected moments of joy and humor. Official Selection of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. A co-production of ITVS. A co-presentation with the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM)." ~PBS.org 

When I Walk

Along with the film, there is this fantastic project that Jason, Alice and some of their friends started that anyone can participate in called AXS MAP (access map) Click this link to find out what it is and how you can help people with disabilities find places to go that are truly accessible. Believe me, I know from experience when I need my wheelchair that lots of place are either NOT at all accessible, or say they are and in reality, not so much. I can't tell you how many times I've had difficulty maneuvering in a “handicap accessible” public restroom.

AXS MAP

See the faint yet clear heart

etched deep into this emerald leaf

formed by veins pulsing with unseen life force.

For me this may as well be a map of the universe.

Unforeseen events happen continuously,

there is little we control. And still there are crossroads.

They appear just as unexpectedly, inviting us

to choose which way we will move forward.

When you come upon such a juncture,

listen to the beating of your heart,

follow the path that you know

in your own veins to be most

compassionate and wise,

for the essence

of all being

is guided

by love.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Welcome to Week Sixty of

I Heart Macro

"Pure awareness transcends thinking... It allows you to look at the world once again with open eyes. And when you do so, a sense of wonder and quiet contentment begins to reappear in your life."~Mark Williams and Danny Pennman, from Mindfulness An Eight-Week Plan For Finding Peace In A Frantic World

It is time for YOU to share the love up-close with YOUR

I Heart Macro offerings!

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Enjoy slowing down with your camera, paying full attention, observing beauty and curiosities many people pass right by. Your generosity of spirit and keen eyes may open the door to miniscule miracles and mirth others would not have access to otherwise. Feel free to include poetry, prose and thoughts your macro photo or series inspire(s) in you. Writing is completely optional for participation. Straight out of the camera (SOC), edited, color, black and white; anything goes as long as you bring the viewer near to whatever it is that drew your heart's attention and "woke you up" to full presence.

Please link back to my blog either using the button provided or by linking the words "I Heart Macro" back to my blog with this link: shinethedivinecreativityisaspiritualpractice.com. By sharing the link, visitors to your blog will learn about this meme and have a chance to participate as well if they so choose. 

Visit each other...

S  p  r  e  a  d  the  LOVE. Thanks :-)

linking to:

real toads

nature notes

makro montag

macro monday 2

guest heart thursday
weekend reflections

mandarin orange monday

the weekend in black and white

reconnect with nature

our world tuesday
haiku my heart