It’s almost hard to imagine a perfect day when you live with chronic illness I don’t really let myself fantasize because I don’t want negative comparisons to get me down. This year, though, my husband and I agreed we need to put aside ‘to-do’ lists and have fun more often. I’ve started imagining day trips that we could enjoy together that are still manageable within my limitations. For this post,  I’ll imagine an ‘almost perfect’ day…

It would start with an unexpectedly great sleep, then a homemade breakfast of pancakes and maple syrup. I would put my phone away and have no demands on my time. I would spend the afternoon on a scenic drive with my husband to a beach or other beautiful outdoor spot. We’d walk in the afternoon sunshine and  then have a picnic.  After, on the drive home, we might discover a cute town or winery to explore. Maybe there would be a jazz festival or art exhibit to check out. Then we would find a neighbourhood restaurant for dinner. Finally, we would drive back to our place and curl up to watch an old movie or cozy mystery. During the day my body would keep pain to a minimum and my brain would not be foggy. I would fall asleep easily that night.

The funny part about my ideal day, besides the fact I’m 31 going on 70, is that it happens quasi regularly. We don’t always get to do all of those things, of course. But it reminds me that even with fibromyalgia I can enjoy my life the way I want to, even if it isn’t possible everyday and doesn’t happen exactly how I imagined it would.