Comments on: Living a creative life with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/03/06/living-a-creative-life-with-multiple-chemical-sensitivity/ A blog and social network about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:06:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Susie Collins http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/03/06/living-a-creative-life-with-multiple-chemical-sensitivity/comment-page-1/#comment-1541 Susie Collins Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:22:46 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=1638#comment-1541 Linda, you and I are so lucky we are writers making a living at it, a profession that one can do at home. And we are lucky that it suits us. Some people have such a hard time with the isolation of MCS, but I have always loved being alone and I love the solitary and creative activity of writing. Although I do need to have some contact from time to time with my friends and community to feel fully alive, being able to make a living in a safe home office, and feel content with it, is a blessing. Linda, you and I are so lucky we are writers making a living at it, a profession that one can do at home. And we are lucky that it suits us. Some people have such a hard time with the isolation of MCS, but I have always loved being alone and I love the solitary and creative activity of writing. Although I do need to have some contact from time to time with my friends and community to feel fully alive, being able to make a living in a safe home office, and feel content with it, is a blessing.

]]> By: Linda Jitmoud http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/03/06/living-a-creative-life-with-multiple-chemical-sensitivity/comment-page-1/#comment-1544 Linda Jitmoud Sun, 08 Mar 2009 02:17:02 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=1638#comment-1544 I also have to agree with Leslie--being creative is what gets me through this. I'm a writer so my materials are few. With MCS, at least, I have the freedom to stay home and write my books. There are times when, because of financial issues, I've felt like I should get out there and work. But MCS gives me a great excuse not to. :-) I also have to agree with Leslie–being creative is what gets me through this. I’m a writer so my materials are few. With MCS, at least, I have the freedom to stay home and write my books. There are times when, because of financial issues, I’ve felt like I should get out there and work. But MCS gives me a great excuse not to. :-)

]]> By: Susie Collins http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/03/06/living-a-creative-life-with-multiple-chemical-sensitivity/comment-page-1/#comment-1543 Susie Collins Sat, 07 Mar 2009 19:40:06 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=1638#comment-1543 Leslie and Mokihana, you both are so creative! I love following your adventures and am constantly inspired by your enduring spirits. When I was diagnosed with MCS, the first thing I set about salvaging was my ability to create and produce. Safe home, safe work, safe friends-- all flowed from the need to find a way to keep being creative and productive. Even on the worst days from an exposure, I figure out a way to drag myself outside to at least putter in the garden, plant something, tend something, prune something to make it more beautiful. Creative activity like that is as important to my health as clean air and good food. Leslie and Mokihana, you both are so creative! I love following your adventures and am constantly inspired by your enduring spirits. When I was diagnosed with MCS, the first thing I set about salvaging was my ability to create and produce. Safe home, safe work, safe friends– all flowed from the need to find a way to keep being creative and productive. Even on the worst days from an exposure, I figure out a way to drag myself outside to at least putter in the garden, plant something, tend something, prune something to make it more beautiful. Creative activity like that is as important to my health as clean air and good food.

]]> By: Mokihana http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/03/06/living-a-creative-life-with-multiple-chemical-sensitivity/comment-page-1/#comment-1540 Mokihana Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:29:05 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=1638#comment-1540 Remaining creative is as Leslie said, is what keeps me showing up for more. Social is tough with MCS, and that's just part of the challenge. I have come to love the way my internal spirit maker gives me directions: "Yes, it is tough. Yes, you can ask for what you need. Yes, they might not get it. Rest, and then there will be more. Trust." Creating beautiful dolls ... BEAUTIFul. Creating beautiful stories, building a gypsy's wagon that is MCSensible ...beautiful. I grieve the losses, and lean on people who love me through them. I love them back, and create something beautiful when someone else just doesn't get it or get me. Thing is, I get me and there's a mastery in that. Thanks for sharing this Susie, Mahalo. Remaining creative is as Leslie said, is what keeps me showing up for more. Social is tough with MCS, and that’s just part of the challenge. I have come to love the way my internal spirit maker gives me directions: “Yes, it is tough. Yes, you can ask for what you need. Yes, they might not get it. Rest, and then there will be more. Trust.” Creating beautiful dolls … BEAUTIFul. Creating beautiful stories, building a gypsy’s wagon that is MCSensible …beautiful. I grieve the losses, and lean on people who love me through them. I love them back, and create something beautiful when someone else just doesn’t get it or get me. Thing is, I get me and there’s a mastery in that.

Thanks for sharing this Susie, Mahalo.

]]> By: Leslie http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/03/06/living-a-creative-life-with-multiple-chemical-sensitivity/comment-page-1/#comment-1542 Leslie Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:31:53 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=1638#comment-1542 I think being creative is what keeps me going- without that I become really down and feel the discomfort of being stuck at home alot more. I have found alot of people are willing to be friends with me and do things special to get to hang out- like not wash in detergents or use scented soaps. I also have to remind people of some stuff or just say no to other things which sucks but the symptoms are so much worse then trying something I know makes me sick. It is a difficult balance to strike some days, and i have had people look personally insulted a few times when i say they have to leave my house cause i am getting sick from them being in here. It's hard for them to understand cause they feel fine and live like that everyday. I try to explain it like having an allergy to cats or asthma - something people are familiar with and can relate to. But i can say for myself, i get really tired of telling people they have to leave, or running out of other people's houses all the time - sometimes i choose to be alone so i don't have to deal with the social pressures of that. I think being creative is what keeps me going- without that I become really down and feel the discomfort of being stuck at home alot more.
I have found alot of people are willing to be friends with me and do things special to get to hang out- like not wash in detergents or use scented soaps. I also have to remind people of some stuff or just say no to other things which sucks but the symptoms are so much worse then trying something I know makes me sick. It is a difficult balance to strike some days, and i have had people look personally insulted a few times when i say they have to leave my house cause i am getting sick from them being in here. It’s hard for them to understand cause they feel fine and live like that everyday. I try to explain it like having an allergy to cats or asthma – something people are familiar with and can relate to.
But i can say for myself, i get really tired of telling people they have to leave, or running out of other people’s houses all the time – sometimes i choose to be alone so i don’t have to deal with the social pressures of that.

]]>