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RoxyC 📷©

@aprettyplacetobe

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Seeker | Learn | Dance | Be Kind | Healing ✨
Forever a WIP
#chronicillness #dynamicdisability
@roxyisreading

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Loved being out and about in The Rocks last week for the Sculpture Rocks exhibition. 🖤
#sculpturerocks #therocks by @aprettyplacetobe

I was a little late in discovering the wonders of @carriageworks but i loved every visit. Here's a pic from my all time favourite exhibition Until by Nick Cave 🖤
#savecarriageworks #savethearts #art #artinsydney #getcultured #culture #sydney #sydneylocal #ilovesydney #sydneycity #sculpture #crystal #chandelier #artgallery #gallery #nickcaveartist #installationart #supportthearts by @aprettyplacetobe

I'd rather be back here today. Chronic illness has me stuck at home again. Love this spot in the city. Stunning views, open space in the sunshine. Perfection 🌞 How is your weekend going?
#sydney #sydneylocal #ilovesydney #sydneycity #sydneyharbour #harbour #circularquay #sydneyharbourbridge #bridge #water #bluesky #lovemycity #palmtree #architecture #bridgedesign #sunshine #citysights #placestogo by @aprettyplacetobe

Week 43 - I was hoping for a visit to the famous sculptures by the sea, but my body sadly said no again. Grateful for the friend that sent me a few photos so I could get a little taste. It's not the same as being there, but it was a lovely gesture. I had a little splurge and bought myself a beautiful meditation setup so I can hopefully stop getting numb-bum and sore ankles from the floor. I have carpet, but it's not cushy and is quite thin with just concrete underneath. Cheapass landlord 🤣. Healthy snacks, gentle movement, a few minutes in the park, journalling, planning, researching, reading. A quiet little week. The usual. How was your week?
🪷 by @aprettyplacetobe

Week 42 - a lot of waiting rooms, donating to street libraries, and a bit of park time, noticing yellow. I hope the universe was good to you all this week.
• Jac Season still going strong
• Hospital visit
• The little yellow steet library
• Gorgeous yellow heirloom tomato
• Heirloom tomato snack time
• Another yellow street library
• Yellow blooms high up
• Curtain shadows
• Pink doors to another waiting room
• Organic wholemeal blueberry muffins 🫐
Also, I've had this song stuck in my head all week. It's yours now🤪 by @aprettyplacetobe

Taste Baguette & Bowl
📍The Spot, Randwick
🥖🍞🥐 The sourdough is soft and tastes good, they were able to slice it for me too which is helpful. The baguettes are good, and there is a decent selection of pastries (some labelling for allergen warnings would be a good addition). I didn't eat-in as there is limited seating and it didn't really look that comfortable but for takeaway baked goods it's a good location and easy to access. The customer service could use a little work - no friendly welcome or smile which can make a difference to the experience and whether you would consider returning. by @aprettyplacetobe

Week 41 - just one photo. I had a lovely little visit from my niece but of course we forgot to take photos. Made it out to the bank and supermarket, not photo worthy, and the rest of the week was managing a life with chronic illness, reading, Qi Gong, cooking, and getting in my 12k+-a-day steps at home. Maybe next week I'll have some photos to add. by @aprettyplacetobe

Week 40 - eek the year is almost gone and I've barely managed to do anything but survive it. This week I was mostly trapped inside again just existing with chronic illness symptoms. I did manage one tiny outing to the local block of shops to quickly visit the post office, newsagents, bakery, and a takeaway from the cafe. Lots of reading, movies, research, journalling, meditation and light movement at home.
🪷
How was your week? Did you get to go out and enjoy the world?
❤️
Here's a few little pics from my little life.
• pastel sky right after a thunderstorm
• insight quote for the day
• about to head outside. Finally!
• The Dog - old pub on the corner
• trying out the new bakery
• takeaway from local favourite Tuga
• a few thousand wonky steps around the park
• 5 mins by the sea is better than nothing.
• meditation time
• eating the rainbow. One of my favourite meal options. by @aprettyplacetobe

Instagram allows individual captions now, so each pic will have its own text. These photos are all very old and I almost no longer recognise that person anymore. Chronic illness steals a lot from people, but the disconnection from yourself is one of the most difficult parts.

A more recent photo...
This girl didn't know she'd spend most of her adult life with a debilitating invisible condition, a dynamic disability. It's no picnic. Every day is a battle with my own body. A lot of time for inner work & growth (spiritual, mental & character). A lot of time for reflection. Following are a few of the things I miss the most from my healthy body days....

Working - yes working. Most people point out how they'd love to not work, but they don't think about what that really means. Not being able to is different from choosing not to. Not working puts most at a financial disadvantage and chronic illness is expensive. A lot of treatments and therapies that would help have a hefty pricetag and need consistency. I miss feeling productive and not having to worry about accommodation stability and having enough to do/get what I need. I went from a high income corporate job to nothing, to a little support that barely covers basics. I also miss the city days, the mental stimulation & social aspect of the office.
I have no photos from the office but just one from a work lunch with Jenny and great boss Erik.

Volunteering - I loved having opportunities to be engaged with my community and help those struggling. I had the $ to provide goods but also a functioning body to physically help out at soup kitchens, shelters, fundraisers and the like. I miss the community engagement. Yes I still help in small indirect ways through my socials but it's not as impactful or spiritually rewarding. I did attempt a return to it in recent years (pictured), but it was too difficult to maintain.

Road trips - oh I miss a good old road trip. The feeling of freedom and independence. My condition means I'm not allowed to drive now, but I also now get horribly ill after just a tiny drive. I was the girl up for the 12 hour drive interstate. I'd go on a long day trip just to check out a place that has grea by @aprettyplacetobe

Week 39 - the chronic illness was being dramatic this week so apart from one tiny outing to pick up some gorgeous Hibiscus tea and a glass container for my passionflower blend tea from my favourite local #thebrontedisoensary the rest of the week was pushing through bad days and trying to be kind & forgiving to my unfriendly body with gentle movement and meditation. No exciting adventures for me, but here are a few pics from the week that was 39. I hope the universe is being good to you all.
• there was a 6 hour power outage overnight, the street was so dark the beautiful moon looked extra luminous
• building my tea collection with a couple more from favourite local store @bronte.dispensary (serene artwork behind from the talented @karenhickart)
• quote of the day
• gentle mindful movement thanks to #manameimovement
• why did the turkey cross the road? Random local turkey sighting.
• pineapple goodness
• candy coloured sky
• windowsill visitor - stay outside please
• backyard flowers
• pair of Kooks in the tree near my window by @aprettyplacetobe

Today is not a good day. The sun is shining, but I can't even walk around my own room without holding the wall. Stuck in bed. Trying to distract myself with movies, manicure/pedicure time, meditation, reading, hand weights. But my mind always comes back to the same game. The never ending guessing game of chronic illness.
😵‍💫
Having a vestibular condition is not the kind of mystery & adventure I want in my life. Why are my symptoms so extreme today? All my vitals are normal, bp a little erratic but to be expected when experiencing stressful symptoms. Osat, temp, sugar, respiratory rate all normal. But I'm so dizzy and nauseated again. I'm always dizzy, but not quite so dramatically. Is it the weather/temp/wind/air pressure, is it what I ate yesterday, is it not enough/too much sleep, because I drank tea, does the universe hate me, is it because I dared to exercise a tiny bit, from muscle tension, jaw issues, eyes, brain, heart, belly, a silent migraine, vagus nerve, ears, inflammation, fluid, or just my awful luck?
🤷🏼‍♀️
It is so frustrating not being able to trust or rely on my own body. But also difficult to have only this body to rely on because ain't no-one coming to the rescue (or even helping out). If I go to the ED they just check my vitals like I already have and say they are normal so go home and book in with the neuro again. After a lengthy wait to see neuro it's usually a new game of which pill should we try that will either do nothing or make it worse? At this point I'd happily try a magic woowoo healer or a stay at one of those old school sanatorium health places we no longer have here (teleport me to Europe please). Figure me out. Fix it. Or at least make it more manageable. Otherwise get a spot at the nursing home ready for me, at least they'll bring me food 🤣
If you have a vestibular condition or debilitating chronic Illness what are your go-tos for bad days? Any tips or tricks for improving it? Any recommendations for Magic healers? 🔮🧿 by @aprettyplacetobe

Today is the last day you can check out the bloomin' beautiful paintings by @kerry_candarakis_artist at @7clovellyroad until 4pm. Paintings, drawings, and lovely cards for sale.
🌸🌸🌸
#art
#talentedartist #artinsydney #exhibition #painting by @aprettyplacetobe