Taking care of myself
7 Comments »24th March, 2011; Category: The Writer's Life
I love writing.
- That’s why I’m a writer.
- That’s why I struggled over the last three years to finish my Master of Arts (Creative Writing).
- That’s why I write regularly on this site (and my other two sites – see the links at the bottom of the page).
- That’s why I write every day or so in my personal journal.
- That’s why I write short stories.
- That’s why I write novels.
- That’s why I write poems.
Sometimes, however, a writer needs to take time out from writing and attend to other life matters. Over recent weeks I’ve been attending to various health issues. These have included:
- An appointment with my optician: I needed new glasses.
- Checking with my eye specialist to see if I need a cataract operation: I don’t.
- A visit to my diabetes nurse educator: for some good information about diet.
- Having a check up with my GP who suggested I have one of my regular blood tests: no problems there.
- Having my six monthly chest x-ray for a certain condition I have: had a good result.
- A dental appointment which resulted in a tooth extraction and a major filling job last week.
I am having few problem with the last item, so back I go to the dentist this afternoon to check on that.
It is important for everyone, not just writers, to look after their health. When I am sick, or have a continuing health issue, I can’t be giving my full attention to my writing, a focus it deserves.
Hope all goes well this afternoon.
Good writing.
Õuch! Both at having another dental appointment this afternoon, but also because this struck a bit of a nerve (she says thinking of the three broken teeth she has been ignoring for a couple of years now). You’re a braver person than I! The relief of having it all attended to will be great, I suspect.
I was the same – I put off going to the dentist for several years and now I’m paying for it. I’m currently on my 4th dentist in the last decade. I have a massive gagging problem plus a large and powerful tongue which gets in the way with a mind of its own. (There’s a story there somewhere.) Got really paranoid about any kind of treatment, especially after being yelled at by one dentist.
The upshot of this is that my current dentist has to do all work with me under sedation – I didn’t feel or know a thing. Best experience ever at a dentist!
Also the most expensive with over $600 to the anaesthetist!
That’s the sign of a good dentist – when the only thing that hurts is the bill!
I hope your health issues will let you keep on writing well into the future Trevor.
a very worthwhile blog, Trevor, reminding us not to nelect our health — you forgot to mention mental health —- while we attend assidously to our duties as writers
Thanks Carolyn,
I certainly intend keeping writing well into the future. I have too many good stories, several novels and a heap of poems just screaming to find publishers. I have declared 2011 the Year of Publication.
May it last many years!
Thanks John,
Funny how health issues can become bigger hurdles than mountains as one approaches the more mature years. I’ve certainly had my fair share of problems over the last 10 years. It makes publication success all the sweeter when one reflects on the difficulties of getting there.
Just an update on the visit this afternoon:
I have to go through the whole process again in 3 weeks’ time. Another tooth has to be removed and two more filled, again under sedation. The dentist couldn’t do them all last week due to the location of the teeth in question.
In the meantime, leave me alone in my misery – and hand me the pain killers.