August 14, 2008
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Gardening, Breathing, Sadness(all of it true)The words do not always come easily for me here. I feel like I lost my fire a year ago when I had pneumonia and it has been very hard to find that spark again. I would never have imagined what an overwhelming influence asthma could have on my life until I experienced it this past year. When you cannot breathe well, it is hard to focus on anything joyful, or spontaneous or good; you can only think about how the air goes in and the air goes out. and this is true. Last winter I became so terribly sad. This asthma made it hard for me to focus on all of the good parts in my life and depression set in like it never has before. So many times I wanted to share this, to write it down and tell you; I am sad now and this is all I have. But i could not because, for me, depression makes the words get all muddled and lost and scarce. this is also true.And so I posted photographs instead, or nothing. I commented less and less as the words slipped away and I hoped this was all right because it was all I could do. Sometimes when I posted a photograph it was only to say, “I wish I had the words but I don’t”
I am better now; so much better now. About 5 weeks ago I went on the Feingold diet to see if I might be having some sensitivities to certain foods and it has helped me to feel SO much healthier. My breathing has improved more than I could have imagined and my mood has become lighter and lighter over the past 5-6 weeks. There are days now when I feel like myself again, and these days are beginning to outnumber the ones when I do not feel like myself and if you are still reading here, then I want to say thank you. Thank you for the kindness and for persisting when I post ever so little and share so few details about all of this.
And now, as I heal up and carefully regain my footing, I garden and garden and garden until I am so tired because it is what I need to do for my heart. I need to rip the weeds and gently stake the things which bend. I need to catch up on the summer I almost missed and there are not enough moments in the day it seems.
But there is one
more truth; the tomatoes are just
now beginning to blush and the
fields are in bloom and the apples are not yet ripe and I am stronger
than I was a month ago and the kids are wanting to play and there is
still time,

Comments (44)
Very beautiful gardens.
I’ve battled asthma all my life.
It’s killed some of my dreams.
I applaud you for holding fast.
I applaud you for your gardening.
I applaud you for sharing the truth.
I applaud you for your persistence.
I applaud you for your pictures, which bring a touch of whimsy to my day.
I applaud you.
Stand up and take a bow. You’ve earned it.
I bid you peace and joy.
-J
I am soooo happy to hear that you are feeling better! I am glad that your happiness is finding its way back. :big-smile:
I’m so glad you’re starting to feel better. I’ve been thinking about you.
i’m glad to hear you are doing better. i’ve missed your posts.
your garden looks gorgeous!
I wondered all winter how you were. How you really were. It makes me happy to know you feel you’ve stepped out of the darkness. Lots of love and hugs to you.
I think we all sometimes have a need to go away a little but we come back when we can. Welcome back. :love:
oh sweetheart, it makes me so happy to read this. happy that you’re finding your way back to you. does that make sense? xo
XO Thank you for sharing, with words and before now with pictures. I could hear you in the pictures too.
That’a amazing about the Feingold diet, hooray!
I’m glad you’re healing.
Oh, my dear Julie…you are truely loved. Even though many of us have never have never met you in person to give you that supporting hug, we do support you. thank you for posting…thank you for sharing…your pictures, your words. You are an inspiration. I encourage you to pull more weeds, your garden looks beautiful, I encourage you to create, your creations are beautiful, I encourage you to play, your children are beautiful. I encourage you to strive for your joy, for you are beautiful!
So glad you are on the upswing. I sensed the sadness. It has been a long time. I missed your the glimpses into your wonderful life. Welcome back! http://www.pepperpaints.com
Julie; I think most of us knew how much you were struggling–words and pictures were not needed. The lack of them said it all (at least to me). I am thankful that things are getting better for you. There ARE brighter days ahead…
I’m glad you are feeling better. I have an auto-immune problem, and when it is acting up it’s just impossible to do anything because even when it’s not acting up at that moment I am so worn down from when it is. It is thankfully *i’m knocking on wood right now* in remission. It was so hard though to get to feeling like “me” again. I hope you continue to feel better.
I am so glad you’re better, Julie–you’ve been in my thoughts and prayers every day. I too have difficulties, and days where I’m “just not heard from.” Being diagnosed as celiac and going gluten/wheat free a few months ago has helped me immensely.
Asthma is awful – it sucks the air and the spirit out of you. I so feel what you’re saying and hope things are definitely on the upswing!
Glad that things are healing and that you are on the mend.
((hugs))
I am so glad you are feeling better. I know that jumbled feeling, it’s not fun (to say the least). Your photos are amazing and your words I love too, but mostly I’m glad you’re getting better.
Captain_E said it all. You are wonderful and I am glad you are doing better. (((((hugs))))
:birdie:I’m soo happy to hear that you have more breath! I understand the depletion of not having your health and losing your joy. Hopefully you will now remain on the upswing. ((hugs))
What a wonderful post. You are so giving to share this part of yourself with others. I am all too familiar with depression. Luckily that means I can say that it will get better! The light is on the way. I’m glad you’re on the path. Hang in there.
As always you rock Mama. You simply do! It’s awesome to hear that the diet changes are helping you. I wish so many others would pay attention in that way to help themselves as well.
Whether words or pictures I have always found inspiration here. You said so beautifully what I am sure many of us have experienced in one guise or another. I know depression has tried to rob my soul more than once. So glad you are feeling better. You are so loved by so many!
I’m still here.:big-smile:
*hugs* to you, my dear. One of your felted bowls sits in my workspace so needless to say, I think of you every day! I have reactive airway disease, so only a fraction of what you deal with, but enough so I know the struggle. So thankful the diet is helping! Much love to you and yours.
:frog: So glad you are getting back to you – you are amazing and have been missed. Never far from thoughts and in many hearts for sure. I think a lot of us were very quiet this winter and spring. A time for renewal. Welcome back
you always inspire me julie persons. you are living poetry and your photos, i swear, your photos bring me to my knees and then lift me back up again justa bit higher than i was before. even during your darkest moments, there was always light emanating from your photos. YOU are a perfect balance of light and dark and it’s so beautiful.
all my best to you
You didn’t have to say anything this year – we all knew it. Your posts were brief yes- like someone out of breath shortens their sentences…even shortens thoughts to the bare essentials. It’s interesting how your blog seemed to parallel your asthma.
So glad you are feeling better! You will come out of this stronger and more centered than ever before. Much love to you, Julie.
For some reason I can’t explain, I feel love for you. It is enormous sometimes. Your pictures stir it up in me and your words validate all of it. You are my mother, my sister, my child and my friend. You are all of us, Julie. You are the realest thing I know…even in this sea of internet. You are beautiful.
Julie, as a veteran of depression, I know exactly what you mean. Depression sucks the life out of you and your world shrinks and shrinks. I am so glad you are feeling better and opening back up to the world and all its joys again.
I have been a reader (but rarely comment) for awhile now and have been wondering if you were OK. Sorry you were dealing with such a scary health issue. It’s good to hear that the Feingold diet did help you.
Sometimes the truth is in the silence. Nothing and everything all at once. You are strong and you love to live. That will get you through. Much love and many good wishes for easier breathing.
I’m glad you’re finding your words again. When I went through some really difficult stuff and environmental depression, I had no words at all. I wish I could have tried…because I want to remember what I was experiencing then and I can’t quite grasp it.
Keep on healing. The world needs your words and your lovely photographs…
so
very
much.
Loving you. Always here. So glad you are finding your way.
love…your…blog. love your honesty. today i opened it just to listen to the music.
Julie – Your words and pictures gently stake the things that bend in my spirit. I’m so glad you’re feeling more like you, that you’re coming home to yourself. I’m so glad you’re making it through!
Oh Julie, I’m sorry you’ve been having a hard time. I’m glad you’ve continued to post, even if it just pictures, they are a balm to my soul when I’m not feeling well, and an inspiration when I am.
Oh beautiful Lady… I’m so sorry that you’ve felt sadness and depression this past year. Even with picture posts I felt close because you’ve always shared your soul and pictures from you are just a small taste of what is there. Each picture post was a gift.
I’m so so glad you’re feeling better and the words are coming. I’ve slipped away a few times from depression and sadness and I know once the words start coming healing is happening.
Happy Days My Friend! I wish for you…. Happy Days!
I love you. I’m glad you are feeling better. Your garden gives me hope.
oh julie, i am so sorry you have gone through this. i also understand why you didnt, or couldnt share. i am so happy to hear the diet is helping. please continue to share however, whenever you can.
Julie, It’s great to hear all of your words, you’re inspiration to all of us who deal with the hurdles life throws at us. I am incredibly joyous for you the the feingold diet worked. Yay!!!!:celebrate:
Your garden is fabulous!
I just started on Xanga recently. I LOVE your pictures and posts. I love the name of your blog and the pictures at the top of your girls. Honestly, I did wonder if you mostly did just pictures. I saw that there was a whole blogring dedicated to you :so-cool: I knew you were special. But I didn’t know you well. I am so happy to hear that you are feeling better. :celebrate:
*sigh*
It does my heart so good to read this. To know a good and pure person is feeling like she’s back in the saddle.