Over the past few weekends, my husband and I, along with our two boys, have spent a lot of time at Silver Dollar City. We've had a great time riding roller coasters, watching different craftsmen, enjoying shows, and certainly eating more than our fair share of food. If I had to pick one thing I enjoyed the most (other than simply being with my family) it would have to be the big coasters. We all love the breath-taking drops, sharp turns, and upside down barrel rows.
What makes this remarkable? Really, it is because in our family and so with so many other ostomates, it is just another fun adventure with those we love. Yes, I do have an ostomy but it doesn't stop "my living". For me, my ostomy has meant that I can "do more living" instead of being constantly sick or in pain. Do I still feel bad more than the average person? Sure. Do I have more aches and pains then some? Probably. Do I have as much fun and does my life have as much meaning than other people? Absolutely! My ostomy means that I get to be a more engaged mom to my boys, have a career, help others, and enjoy time with my family and friends. My ostomy doesn't define who I am.
To be fair, however, it wasn't an overnight experience. It is a journey. A number of years ago, I was given a permanent ostomy at the Mayo Clinic. Even though I had already experience life with a temporary ostomy 5 years before, I remember preparing for the trip back to Arkansas. I was nervous about going to the restroom in public. I could feel the butterflies in my stomach as we pulled up into the Arby's parking lot. Of course, everything was fine. There have been many times where I have been a little nervous about something. How do I deal with it? It is the same way we deal with anxiety in the rest of our lives. Little by little we push ourselves to do something that is a tad out of our comfort zone. When we realize that many of our fears either don't happen or when they do, we can handle them, our confidence grows. I have over 15 years of living with an ostomy. I have had many opportunities to "grow in confidence" but it started with one experience at a time.
For me, I don't live life in spite of my ostomy, but in part because of it. In so many ways, my experience as an ostomate has shape me into the person I am today. You might not be able to ride the coasters at Silver Dollar City but you can join me on an adventure. Try taking one small step out of your comfort zone. Just like on a coaster, be sure to put the safety bar down, secure any lose items, hold your breath, and see what adventure lies ahead!
What makes this remarkable? Really, it is because in our family and so with so many other ostomates, it is just another fun adventure with those we love. Yes, I do have an ostomy but it doesn't stop "my living". For me, my ostomy has meant that I can "do more living" instead of being constantly sick or in pain. Do I still feel bad more than the average person? Sure. Do I have more aches and pains then some? Probably. Do I have as much fun and does my life have as much meaning than other people? Absolutely! My ostomy means that I get to be a more engaged mom to my boys, have a career, help others, and enjoy time with my family and friends. My ostomy doesn't define who I am.
To be fair, however, it wasn't an overnight experience. It is a journey. A number of years ago, I was given a permanent ostomy at the Mayo Clinic. Even though I had already experience life with a temporary ostomy 5 years before, I remember preparing for the trip back to Arkansas. I was nervous about going to the restroom in public. I could feel the butterflies in my stomach as we pulled up into the Arby's parking lot. Of course, everything was fine. There have been many times where I have been a little nervous about something. How do I deal with it? It is the same way we deal with anxiety in the rest of our lives. Little by little we push ourselves to do something that is a tad out of our comfort zone. When we realize that many of our fears either don't happen or when they do, we can handle them, our confidence grows. I have over 15 years of living with an ostomy. I have had many opportunities to "grow in confidence" but it started with one experience at a time.
For me, I don't live life in spite of my ostomy, but in part because of it. In so many ways, my experience as an ostomate has shape me into the person I am today. You might not be able to ride the coasters at Silver Dollar City but you can join me on an adventure. Try taking one small step out of your comfort zone. Just like on a coaster, be sure to put the safety bar down, secure any lose items, hold your breath, and see what adventure lies ahead!