Reevaluating What’s Important in Life

A couple of weeks ago, I endured a full week of medical testing to see if alternative therapies might help me to live better with sarcoidosis. Needless to say, I was thrilled when it was all over.

Last weekend, I planned to do absolutely nothing. I even told my kids I wouldn’t be driving anywhere. I just wanted to sit back and relax in front of the television and watch all of my favorite cooking shows and any good movies I could find. Testing takes a lot out of me, especially when I don’t receive immediate results while I’m with the physician.

But there was a slight deviation from my initial plan. A new brewery a few blocks from my house had its grand opening on Friday night. My wife’s birthday was during the week I had testing, so as a consolation for her accompanying me to my appointments, we agreed to check out the new place.

As an avid homebrewer, I thought it would be fun to visit a local brewer in my community. We also looked forward to seeing our son’s photography displayed on the brewery’s wall. Our son is a local photographer here in Philly, and on occasion, local businesses and galleries ask to hang some of his work. As a proud poppa, I wanted to see his work and the brewery.

“Age.” (Photo by Cameron Harris)

My wife, her mother, and I decided to go early when my wife got home from work (which turned out to be a good idea). We arrived before the grand opening crowd took over the space.

I thought it would be a good adventure for me. Having spent the week seeing doctors, taking tests, and getting stuck with needles, it was the welcome diversion I needed to clear my head and regroup.

I also considered that the outing would test my patience. In the past two years, I haven’t been among many crowds. The largest crowds I’ve seen were at the supermarket and the doctor’s office. Surprisingly, when we arrived, we immediately got seats in the art gallery, and I saw my son’s photographs. I pointed them out to my wife and mother-in-law, and they were pleased as well. I took photos of his prints and texted them to him. His response was great!

“Time Flies.” (Photo by Cameron Harris)

We stayed for about an hour or so, sampled two of the signature beers, and then decided to leave as the crowd was becoming larger than I was used to. But we had a good time nonetheless.

Things happen for a reason

We arrived home and debated dinner plans, as the brewery didn’t serve food. Since I planned to stay in all weekend, I decided to get comfortable and relax in front of the television while my wife and daughter handled dinner. One of my favorite cooking shows was on. I sat down to watch it.

Then it happened.

In the middle of the broadcast, the signal froze. That was it — no more television. I changed the channel and nothing. I turned everything off and back on. Nothing. I went to the kitchen and picked up the telephone. (We’re one of the two families left in the world that has a landline.) Nothing. The phone was dead, too. At that point, I was aggravated, but what could I do? I tried calling the phone company several times but was put on hold for more than an hour.

It looked like my plans were a bust. But I began to think that maybe this wasn’t so bad. On Saturday morning, the TV service was still out. So I offered to take my wife to our local produce market, and we had fun.

When we returned home, I found myself doing things I hadn’t done in some time because I had allowed my health to dictate my life. I found a few books I had been looking for and started looking through some photos I had taken during my career.

I’d been putting off sorting through my photos, so maybe this was the right time for me to get it done. I plan to sell some of them like my son does. The more I did other things instead of watching television, the more I felt I was actually accomplishing something.

A technician arrived on Sunday afternoon to fix the problem. Truth be told, it wasn’t so bad reconnecting with my family and myself. Sometimes it’s best to take a step back to reconnect with yourself, especially if you have medical issues. I highly recommend it — I’m sure you’ve been missed.

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Note: Sarcoidosis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Sarcoidosis News or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to sarcoidosis.