Reality Bites

THE BOOK OF FACES

“Today is the Tomorrow I worried about Yesterday”

The other day, a friend posted the following on social media, ‘May your life be as good as it looks on Facebook’.

How awesome would that be? Right?

So I asked myself – what does my life on social media look like? Are my photos perfectly posed? Do people think my life is perfect and pain-free? That my kids are always well behaved and my wife always gets googly-eyed when I walk into a room?

OF COURSE IT IS! #blessed.

Not.

Facebook may not show the reality of life but it does build real-life communities, and it’s allowed me to create my own. I love connecting with people. I can stay in touch with someone I haven’t seen in years and feel as though I’m a part of their life in some way. I know their children’s names, their husbands or wives and basically what they had for dinner the night before.

When I see Facebook friends in person, they comment on the success I’ve had with my skin and how I’ve found my ‘cure’. I’m always in awe at how many people pay attention. I love the positive impact my story has on others who also suffer with Psoriasis and other autoimmune diseases.

For me, social media is an outlet where I can share what I love. My family, my journey and those recipes have helped to heal me. Sharing who I am continues to bring me closer to people and their own journeys with food, health, and family.

For that, I am truly grateful.

IRL (In real life)

The reality is, sometimes my kids drive me nuts, and sometimes my wife barely likes me. My daughter is 9, going on 14 and my son, well, he’s 13 going on 9. But I love them. I don’t always like them but I certainly always love them.  The secret to my own marriage with Tamar is this; as long as we don’t speak before 10am, we are good for the day. Any dialogue before then, and we’re guaranteed to have an argument. And that’s the truth!

In real life, I also suffer with my Psoriasis.  I suffer less today than in years past thanks to my new clean(er) lifestyle. The removal of refined sugar, gluten and dairy has really changed my life. But I still suffer. My suffering is something I don’t talk about often. Everyone has their own level of suffering and we all deal with it in our own way. I prefer to focus on beating my disease rather than the toll it still takes today.

In my early 20’s I moved to Florida to attend culinary school.  I could only get limited health insurance because of the side effects of some of the medications I had taken as a child. As a result, I have stayed away from most conventional medications, certainly oral ones.  But from time to time, I will have no choice but to use conventional topical creams for relief. This winter it happened a lot. It was one of the toughest in years.

The winter is always the worst time of year for my skin. It was moot when I was attending culinary school in Florida or living in California, but that was many years ago. Here in Canada it’s like clockwork; the cold weather hits and my skin flares up. From time to time I’ll have to cancel a meeting or go for UVB light treatment and I’m usually up all night. When that happens, the next day is even worse. But I still maintain that I’m better off than most. And I am definitely better off than where I was, five years ago.

“Today is the Tomorrow I worried about Yesterday”

My friend Lorne is someone who’s had a tremendously positive impact on my adult life. Not only is he a role model for other dads, husbands and friends but he gives great advice. He said something once that has stuck with me for over a decade: ‘Today is the tomorrow I worried about yesterday’. So, I don’t spend time worrying about yesterday. I plan for tomorrow but I live for today. Some days I suffer with pain, but most days, thankfully, I don’t.

I am lucky.

Cooking lets the sun shine in

Cooking always makes me feel better. In the absence of actual sunshine, it takes my attention off my skin and lets me joyfully create.  During a recent cold snap, I wasn’t feeling great and had a craving for a brownie.  So, I put my energy into creating a recipe for brownies that I could eat and enjoy, guilt-free. You know what? I ate them hot right out of the oven with no tummy ache after. I felt so much better!

Sometimes eating good food doesn’t always make me feel great but cooking good food definitely does! That sunshine heals me. And eating clean has enabled me to have a healthier and happier existence.  Sure, I still suffer, but I suffer far less.

So you know what?!

I am #Blessed.