Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true
Or is it something worse
The River – Bruce Springsteen
This decade commenced with another change in direction, in that I was made redundant from a post I had very much enjoyed for 8 years.
With an acceptable redundancy package and a huge blow to my moral I decided to take a bit of time off to consider what it was that I wanted to do.
After a six-month time of reflection volunteering in a homeless support centre in Stoke-on-trent I decided that I would give self employment a go.
The redundancy experience did put my confidence and self worth at a very low point, however the experience of supporting the people I met at the centre showed me that yet again I had so much to be grateful for
I also became very good at table-football and simply brilliant at throwing together full English Breakfasts for up to 30 people. However thats a story for another day.
I decided that I would never again work for a corporate body owned and run by accountants but get by enjoying what I do, I was 36 six years of age and heading for a new beginning.
An exciting time maybe?
And it has been an incredible rollercoaster type journey but again these stories will wait. What has been crossing my mind lately, and the first thing I thought of when diagnosed with Chronic Lymphatic Leuakemia was, ‘what if I cannot work?’ in turn this makes me ponder what your thoughts would be in the same situation.
It is not just about giving up the thing I love but about not being able to support my loved ones my friends or even myself. Going off sick is not an option, it doesn’t exist for us self-employed small business owners.
From the moment that some amazing person in a laboratory looked at my blood sample and recognised that something wasn’t right, alerted my doctor just a very short time after receiving this sample and in turn my doctor called me I have been given the most incredible support possible.
Incidentally because I have a large network of friends in very eclectic circles I actually know who the person was that diagnosed me. Not personally but via a mutual friend, needless to say I am so very grateful.
As a chronically ill person though I began to think about what would my situation be without the National Health Service.
One way to look at this would be to look at what life was like for the average person before the National Health Service existed.
I am a bit of a history buff and extensively studied 20th Century European history so I have a good understanding.
I certainly would not one of the wealthy people who can afford the care and treatment that I am grateful to be having. No really! I know what my treatment is costing.
Because I am a curious type I have asked, and I was shocked at the cost of the drugs alone.
However it is still hard to imagine what this would mean for me other than to shuffle off this mortal coil well before I would like to.
To understand more of how a nation without the NHS would affect me day by day I looked at another country, a civilised western power that many in this country in turbulent political times look to as a number one partner, creating an even closer ‘special relationship’.
I have carried out a lot of research including talking to friends who live in the USA and the future of following that country as an example is not a good one. There are so many better forms of government and society examples that we could emulate.
I believe that most Americans are amazing people, I have seen and heard of some incredible stories how how they help each other for example. I have been fortunate enough to spend some time working there with the opportunity to talk to everyday people in a number of states.
It is, in my humble opinion, just that the very nature of their constitution they are trapped by corporate powers, the ability for money to influence and control everything.
We have seen that influence right here in the UK in the past few years. The power to persuade the turkeys that it would be a great thing for them to vote for sharper axes leading up to Christmas.
I guess It’s a liberating feeling ‘wanting their farm back’ with no idea about how detrimental this will be for them without the other farms to come to they’re assistance.
Tomorrow is a General Election and I can only hope that people will vote with love and compassion and not hatred in their hearts and minds.
Day 22 of treatment and I have to be honest that the last week has been pretty tough with muscle and joint pains supported by their miserable allies diarrhea and sickness, leading to a couple of days at Ward 202 being thoroughly checked out.
I could not have got through this fairly busy work period with the incredible support of family, friends and understanding clients. again something to be incredible grateful for.
See you soon, take care, be kind…